PPP in contact with PML-N and other parties for Pakistani coalition government

PPP in contact with other parties for Pakistani coalition gov't

www.chinaview.cn 2008-02-20 04:50:59

ISLAMABAD, Feb. 19 (Xinhua) --

Co-Chairman of Pakistan People's Party (PPP) Asif Ali Zardari said Tuesday contacts were under way with all parties, primarily with Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), on the formation of a coalition government.

Addressing a news conference at the Zardari House in Islamabad, Zardari said PPP would join hands with democratic forces. He said dialogue with all parties would be in the interest of strengthening democracy in the country.

Zardari said the party after forming a government would immediately seek UN investigation into the Dec. 27 assassination of Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto.

Paying homage to his slain wife and party chairperson, Zardari said she gave her life for the cause of democracy and "we believe democracy is the best revenge."

The official Associated Press of Pakistan (APP) quoted Zardari as saying that people rejected Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid because of failed policies of its patron and now many in that party were realizing that their defeat was due to that factor.

Zardari alleged there had been selective rigging in Monday's parliamentary polls.

He said 27 workers of PPP were "martyred" and an equal number were kidnapped while 300 were injured by rivals.

Zardari said the question of restoration of pre-emergency judiciary should be left to the incoming parliament.

Zardari said PPP stood for combating terrorism but at the same time it also believed in the method dialogue to achieve the objective.

Zardari confirmed phone conversation with the leader of PML-N Nawaz Sharif on Tuesday and said he would meet him on Wednesday.

To a question about working with President Pervez Musharraf, Zardari said it would be decided in the parliament.

PPP leading in Pakistan's general elections

www.chinaview.cn 2008-02-19 15:15:30

ISLAMABAD, Feb. 19 (Xinhua) --

Latest incomplete results of Pakistan's elections on Tuesday show that Pakistan People's Party (PPP) takes the lead by winning 77 out of the 228 National Assembly seats, which have gone to candidates.

So far 228 out of 269 NA seats have been announced, local TV channel Geo reported, adding that Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) was the runner-up with 62 seats and former ruling party Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid gained 34 seats.

Due to the demise of some contesting candidates, polling on some NA seats have been postponed. Local media reported that more than 40 parties will vie for 269 out of the 272 NA seats in the general elections.

President Pervez Musharraf said Monday that whichever party won the elections should form the government. In case there is not a hung parliament, a coalition government should be formed, said Musharraf.

If the initial results provided by Geo can be confirmed by the Election Commission of Pakistan, according to which more than 100 NA seats are still awaited to be announced, no party will win majority votes in the elections and Pakistan will have a coalition government according to Musharraf's statement.

Currently the polling staff are still counting votes and the final unofficial results are expected to be available later.

Musharraf has said he would be willing to work with any Prime Minister and the party forming the next government.

PML-N leading in Pakistan's general elections

www.chinaview.cn 2008-02-19 11:56:00

ISLAMABAD, Feb. 19 (Xinhua) --

Initial unofficial results of Pakistan's general elections show that Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) is leading while the counting of votes is still continuing on Tuesday.

As of the filing of this story, PML-N, led by former prime minister Nawaz Sharif, has already won 54 seats in National Assembly (NA), followed by Pakistan People's Party which won 52 NA seats, local TV channel Geo reported.

Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain, president of former ruling party Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q), lost in his bid for a national assembly seats in the polling on Monday.

Insiders said that PML-Q had been considered one of the hopeful winners in the elections. However, it has merely won 21 NA seats so far.

PML-Q spokesman Tariq Azim congratulated leaders of PML-N Nawaz Sharif and Asif Zardari, Co-Chairman of PPP on Tuesday on "an excellent performance" by their parties in Monday's elections, local newspaper Daily Times reported on Tuesday.

"If the results are confirmed we will play the part of the opposition as effectively as we can," Azim said.

Editor: Sun Yunlong

Fair Use Notice

This site contains copyrighted material the use of which has not always been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. We are making such material available in our efforts to advance understanding of environmental, political, human rights, economic, democracy, scientific, and social justice issues, etc. We believe this constitutes a 'fair use' of any such copyrighted material as provided for in section 107 of the US Copyright Law. In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, the material on this site is distributed without profit to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the included information for research and educational purposes. For more information go to: http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/17/107.shtml. If you wish to use copyrighted material from this site for purposes of your own that go beyond 'fair use', you must obtain permission from the copyright owner.