PPP says no to PTI’s call of May 11 protests

ISLAMABAD: Terming the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf’s (PTI) protest call an attempt to spread anarchy, Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) has categorically said no to politics of agitation which they say may be seen as leading to destabilising the democratic structure of the country. “The party has very serious reservations about the general elections 2013 and believes that invisible hands were at play to ensure pre-determined results, but it will not join any agitation or movement to upset the democratic structure,” PPP spokesman Senator Farhatullah Babar quoted party’s co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari as saying. He read out the written message during a public meeting in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Lower Dir on Mr Zardari’s behalf. Imran Khan’s PTI and Allama Tahirul Qadri have announced to stage protest demonstrations in the federal capital against alleged rigging in last year’s national polls. Qadri staged a similar protest in the run up to the historic May 11 elections, when he and thousands of his followers took to the streets in Islamabad demanding sweeping changes in the country’s electoral system. The event in Lower Dir was organised by the PPP’s KP chapter to mark the first martyrdom anniversary of party activists who were killed in a militant attack during the election campaign last year. “Despite obvious rigging and manipulation in the poll results, the party will not come out on the streets,” said Babar. He said that former president Zardari has reminded that elections were manipulated against the PPP and democratic forces of the country in the past also. The PPP spokesman said that in at least one such case of gerrymandering, the involvement of “invisible hands” doling out to anti-PPP elements monies stolen from a bank has been recently established. Imran ready for vote recounting in KP PTI chief Imran Khan has said that his party was ready for recounting of votes in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa constituencies where it won seats during last year's general election. Addressing a press conference at his residence in Lahore, he said only free judiciary can ensure transparent elections and democracy in the country. Imran Khan said on May 11, his party will present a charter of demands and a time-frame for resolving all the issues regarding recounting of the votes. The PTI leader said his party would suggest measures, which will help strengthen democracy in the country by bringing more transparency in the electoral system. He said upcoming demonstration in Islamabad was not aimed at derailing democracy, rather the party was seeking rectification of their complaints. Peshawar workers warns of movement Meanwhile, the office-bearers and leaders of PTI in Peshawar have warned of starting a protest movement if party chief Imran Khan did not restore sacked provincial minister Shaukat Yousafzai and advisor Yasin Khalil. Addressing a press conference in Peshawar, General Secretary PTI Peshawar Younis Zahir and others said sacking ministers without any evidence was not justified. Both Yousafzai and Khalil were made powerless without issuing any notification, he added. They said if the ministers’ performance was not up to the mark, then the party should have issued them show cause notices. But, they regretted that the provincial ministers were sacked without any evidence against them – APP