| PPP Co-Chairman is in Dubai now | No plans to extend stay

ISLAMABAD   -   Pakistan People’s Party Co-Chairman Asif Ali Zardari will return soon from abroad and has no plan to extend his stay, party sources said.

Zardari is currently in Dubai. He flew after his name was removed from Exit Control List following the formation of a new coalition government after Imran Khan’s ouster as the Prime Minister. The trip is private. Zardari met his daughter Bakhtawar Bhutto Zardari and grandson after reaching Dubai.

PPP leaders said Zardari will return soon. “He did not leave Pakistan when the time was tough. Now it (the situation) is much better. He will stay there for a short time and come back,” said a close aide. During Imran Khan’s term as the Prime Minister, the opposition leaders were mostly barred from travelling abroad.

Names of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, former president Asif Zardari, former Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, Faryal Talpur and other important political personalities were recently removed from the ECL by the interior ministry led by Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah.

The names of more than 100 political personalities including Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah, Faryal Talpur, Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, Saad Rafique, Khawaja Asif and others have been removed from the ECL.

The names were placed on the ECL on the recommendations of the Federal Investigation Agency and the National Accountability Bureau. Meanwhile, the PPP has started preparations for general elections to give time to the candidates. Yesterday, the PPP extended up to May 15 the last date for applications for party tickets for National Assembly, all provincial assemblies as well as for the seats reserved for women and non-Muslims for the forthcoming general elections.

Applications can now be submitted by May 15. The last date previously fixed for applications expires today (April 30) which has now been extended.

In addition to the general seats applications for party tickets for the seats reserved for women and non-Muslins have also been invited by May 15.

Applications for party tickets for all categories should be addressed to the President Pakistan People’s Party Parliamentarians, Asif Ali Zardari.

Each application must be accompanied with a Bank draft of Rs 40,000 for a National Assembly party ticket and Rs 30,000 for a Provincial Assembly ticket whether for a general or a reserved seat. Applications must reach the Party secretariat in Islamabad or Bilawal House Karachi by May 15, PPPP Secretary General Farhatullah Babar said.