Cricket diplomacy good for Pak-India ties, says Firdous

KARACH Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting, Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan, said Sunday that cricket diplomacy might melt the ice between India and Pakistan and open the door of dialogue between both the countries. Addressing a news conference here at a local hotel, she said that Prime Minister Gilani has accepted the invitation of Indian Prime Minister to watch the semi-final in India, saying that there will be no agenda in the Prime Ministers visit. She pointed out that the visit of Prime Minister Gilani will open the door of negotiation and urged the Indian government to allow the Pakistanis to watch the semi-final in India. Replying a question, she said that a section of the media has twisted the statement of President Asif Ali Zardari, adding that the President has, in fact, said at Bait-ul-Maal function, where she was also present, that PPP government will remain in power as long as it enjoyed the mandate and support of the people of Pakistan. PPP is a democratic party and we are democratic people, we do not practice politics for power only, she said quoting President Zardari. She said the source of power is the people of Pakistan as has been enunciated in PPPs manifesto. The President had said that only people would decide who would sit in the Presidency. His remarks, to the contrary, were twisted by a section of media, she noted. The Minister said that PPP has always come to the power through the votes of the masses and not through back door. She said that President Zardari had said that if the people reject PPP in the forthcoming elections, he will lead the opposition in the Assemblies.