ISLAMABAD – The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf on Tuesday reiterated its demand for resignation of President Asif Zardari, stating that being the co-chairman of the PPP, he could not do justice with his role of overseeing the holding of general elections, and hence his stay in the Presidency would make the election process doubtful.
The call for the president to step down came during PTI’s Political Strategy Committee meeting at the party’s central office on Tuesday. The PTI demanded structural changes in the election commission with the aim to plug the flaws and weaknesses exposed in the incumbent set-up. Also, a PTI delegation is scheduled to meet with Dr Tahirul Qadri in Lahore on Wednesday (today).
Apparently, the PTI and Dr Qadri-led Pakistan Awami Tehreek are on the same page as regards the issue of reconstitution of the Election Commission of Pakistan and are learnt to have been weighing the options to enter an electoral alliance.
PTI Central Secretary General Dr Arif Alvi, who would also be part of five members committee that would meet Dr Qadri, confirmed about the decision, saying the meeting was aimed to have Qadri’s views on making the ECP stronger and independent.
PTI Vice Chairman Shah Mehmood Qureshi in his short comment said the meeting was aimed to “discuss the current political situation and to have some clarifications [from Dr Qadri] on major issues”. Nevertheless, insiders said Wednesday’s meeting with Qadri would go beyond taking his input on the subject and the matter of some sort of future electoral alliance or seat adjustment with the Pakistan Awami Tehreek, the political wing of Minhajul Quran, would also come under discussion.
“The meeting will be part of PTI’s efforts regarding formation of a major and broad-based electoral alliance ahead of the general elections with likeminded political parties,” the PTI leader claimed.
PTI delegation would be headed by Shah Mehmood Qureshi and PTI President Makhdoom Javed Hashmi while Ijaz Chaudhry, President PTI Southern Punjab, and Dr Arif Alvi would also be part of the delegation.
PTI’s Political Strategy Committee also mandated the aforementioned committee to hold deliberations with those political parties who are currently not in alliance with the ruling PPP.
“The PTI leadership has reposed full confidence into the working and mandate of the committee headed by Shah Mehmood Qureshi and they have been asked by the chairman to hold talks with the leaders of Pakistan Awami Tehreek, Jammat-e-Islami, Pakhtoonkhwa Mili Awami Party etc,” an insider informed this scribe.
During the course of meeting, Shah Mehmood Qureshi informed party chairman Imran Khan about PTI’s recent contacts with the JI and other likeminded groups.
The committee took stock of the prevalent political situation in the country and the party’s contacts with other likeminded political forces for possible alliance and seat-adjustments for the upcoming elections, said a PTI statement.
The PTI meeting reiterated its demand for resignation of President Asif Zardari, stating that being the co-chairman of the PPP, the president could not do justice with his role of overseeing the holding of general elections, hence his stay in the Presidency would make the election process doubtful.