PPP warns judiciary: 'Remain within constitutional limits'

LAHORE The PPP Punjab General Council, which met here on Monday with Rana Aftab Ahmad Khan in the chair, asked the judiciary to remain within its Constitutional limits, otherwise, the PPP would resist all what it called its unconstitutional moves. All district presidents, divisional coordinators, office-bearers of Punjab organisation, PPP Ministers and old party workers attended the meeting in a large numbers. The over all mood of the meeting was confrontational. Senior PPP Punjab Minister Raja Riaz even went to the extent of saying that in case of PPP's judicial murder the country would not remain intact. Rajas statement was in sharp contrast to what party chief Asif Zardari had advised the party men at PPPs CEC meeting on Saturday that PPP would never do parochial politics, as it was symbol of Federation and would keep it intact at any cost. The participants of the meeting grilled the apex court for its alleged involvement in matters of transfers and postings of officers, citing court orders regarding posting of DG, FIA, Tariq Khosa. The PPP leaders warned that if the apex court did not confine itself to its Constitutional limits, the PPP would resist all such moves. Partys Punjab Secretary General Samiullah Khan was the most vocal of all party leaders against the judiciary. He said President enjoyed immunity under Article 248 of the Constitution, but petitions were being filed in courts to undo this Article under a conspiracy. He urged Supreme Court not to entertain these petitions, which were directly in conflict with the Constitution. He said it was not the job of SC to order postings and transfers of civil servants. In a sarcastic tone, Sami asked Federal government to provide list of its officers to the SC so that it could post officers of its choice in various departments. President Rana Aftab Ahmad said that those demanding resignation of President Asif Ali Zardari and PPP Ministers were the remnants of dictatorship. Coming down hard on Opposition parties, he said one of them was brought up in the lap of dictator Zia, while the other one flourished in the lap of another dictator Pervez Musharraf. It was an implicit reference to PML-N and PML-Q respectively. Rana asked the opponents to remain confined within their Constitutional limits, otherwise, he threatened, PPP knew full well how to deal with such people. He said those talking of mid-term polls were trying to enter power corridors through backdoors, but they would be disappointed. He said PPP would complete its five-year term. Rana was of the view that PPP should now shun politics of reconciliation and take on its opponents with full force. Rana said he believed in politics of principles and not that of reconciliation. He said he had also suggested to party Co-Chairman and President Asif Ali Zardari that it was time that PPP should play on the front foot, as all its reconciliation gestures were being taken as sign of weakness. Rana asked all district office-bearers to take out rallies to express solidarity with President Asif Ali Zardari. Later, after the meeting, all participants came out on the road and held a rally to express solidarity with party Co-Chairman Asif Ali Zardari. They vowed to defend their leader at the cost of their lives.

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