MULTAN: Former prime minister Yousuf Raza Gilani on Wednesday said holding elections in the coun-try was the responsibility of the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP).
Speaking to media, Gilani expressed his thoughts in line with the Pakistan Peoples Party’s (PPP) new manifesto, saying, “The party has formed a committee to create the new manifesto of the party.”
He launched a fresh salvo at the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), accusing the embattled party of mak-ing a “grave error” by dissolving the Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa assemblies. Gilani said, “I worked with Benazir Bhutto for 22 years. My kids are involved with the PPP as well”.
In reference to the events that transpired on May 9, Gilani said, “Attacking the military installations is tantamount to attacking the state.” On Tuesday, Gilani said Benazir Bhutto was the first woman prime minister in the Muslim world. He said, “Benazir Bhutto and PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif had signed the charter of democracy.”
The negotiation between all of the political stakeholders is urgently required, he maintained. Speaking on his party’s struggle, Gilani said, “The PPP’s struggle began during the administration of Ayub Khan”.
Meanwhile, PPP on Wednesday abruptly suspended the basic membership of its senior leaders Barris-ter Aitzaz Ahsan and Barrister Sardar Latif Khosa reportedly for violating the party’s discipline.
Talking media, PPP Central Punjab chapter President Rana Farooq Saeed confirmed that the basic membership of the duo has been suspended. It was suggested to the party leadership to suspend the basic membership of Khosa and Ahsan. “Final decision about expelling the leaders from the party is expected during the party’s upcoming CEC meeting.” It is pertinent to mention here that Ahsan and Khosa are also the members of PPP’s CEC.
Earlier in the day, the PPP inaugurated a “Wall of Shame” at the party’s Central Punjab Secretariat and hanged the photos of those who betrayed the party after enjoying coveted positions and privileges. Khosa’s picture was among those hung on the wall.
Moreover, Barrister Ahsan and Barrister Khosa on Tuesday called on CJP Bandial to discuss important legal matters.
In an hour-long meeting, both the senior lawyers apprised the CJP about important constitutional peti-tions filed in the apex court pertaining to the fundamental rights of citizens in general and supremacy of the Constitution in particular, sources close to the development said.
It was further learnt that Barrister Ahsan informed CJP Bandial about his constitutional petition chal-lenging the trials of civilians through military courts and urged the chief justice to fix the matter in the apex court at the earliest.
In addition to this, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan Monday visited the house of the PPP leader and strongly condemned the gun attack on his house.
Later, taking to his Twitter handle, Khosa thanked the deposed prime minister — who was removed from office in April last year — vowed to work with his legal team. His tweet earned him the wreath of PPP’s leadership. –Agencies
