Nawaz should contest polls, PPP will support him
* Babar Awan says PPP will sweep next elections in Punjab
Staff Report
LAHORE: Federal Law Minister Babar Awan on Wednesday asked the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) chief Nawaz Sharif to contest elections to strengthen democracy and parliament.
Talking to reporters on International Democracy Day at Jahangirs Mausoleum, Babar said he had assured the PML-N chief that the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) would not field any candidate against him if he decided to participate in the elections. Even Prime Minister Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani would support him in the elections, he added. Answering a question, Babar said the government would restore Jahangirs Mausoleum. He added that the preservation of historical places was the top priority of the PPP government.
Babar said that the PPP would oppose all forces that were conspiring against the government and wanted to derail the democratic system. Asked about the return of former president Gen (r) Pervez Musharraf, he said the PML-N-led government in Punjab could settle scores with him when he returned for toppling its government in a coup in 1999.
The minister said that democracy was growing in the country and the nation would not tolerate any unconstitutional interference or dictatorship in the future. He said the recent referendum in Turkey on constitutional changes was the best example of political maturity in which democratic forces had succeeded with a heavy mandate. Babar said the PPP would contest the next general elections on the basis of its leaderships performance and would sweep the polls in Punjab.
On the 18th Amendment, Babar said the petitions against the constitutional amendment were not against the federal government but against the authority of parliament, and the government was waiting for a verdict. He said the Islamabad High Court could not start functioning until the case was decided. The minister said that the lawyers who were defending the 18th amendment in the apex court were in fact protecting parliament. He said the PPP government was determined to strengthening the judicial system in order to provide justice to the people at their doorstep. He also expressed governments commitment to the welfare of bar associations. Turning his attention again to the Punjab government, Babar said one of the lawyers representing the provincial government in the court argued in favour of the 18th Amendment, whereas, the other opposed it.
Earlier, he visited the residence of Peoples Lawyer Forum Lahore President Shahid Mehmood Bhatti to condole the death of his father. A large number of PPP workers were also present on the occasion.
http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2010\09\16\story_16-9-2010_pg7_19
* Babar Awan says PPP will sweep next elections in Punjab
Staff Report
LAHORE: Federal Law Minister Babar Awan on Wednesday asked the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) chief Nawaz Sharif to contest elections to strengthen democracy and parliament.
Talking to reporters on International Democracy Day at Jahangirs Mausoleum, Babar said he had assured the PML-N chief that the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) would not field any candidate against him if he decided to participate in the elections. Even Prime Minister Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani would support him in the elections, he added. Answering a question, Babar said the government would restore Jahangirs Mausoleum. He added that the preservation of historical places was the top priority of the PPP government.
Babar said that the PPP would oppose all forces that were conspiring against the government and wanted to derail the democratic system. Asked about the return of former president Gen (r) Pervez Musharraf, he said the PML-N-led government in Punjab could settle scores with him when he returned for toppling its government in a coup in 1999.
The minister said that democracy was growing in the country and the nation would not tolerate any unconstitutional interference or dictatorship in the future. He said the recent referendum in Turkey on constitutional changes was the best example of political maturity in which democratic forces had succeeded with a heavy mandate. Babar said the PPP would contest the next general elections on the basis of its leaderships performance and would sweep the polls in Punjab.
On the 18th Amendment, Babar said the petitions against the constitutional amendment were not against the federal government but against the authority of parliament, and the government was waiting for a verdict. He said the Islamabad High Court could not start functioning until the case was decided. The minister said that the lawyers who were defending the 18th amendment in the apex court were in fact protecting parliament. He said the PPP government was determined to strengthening the judicial system in order to provide justice to the people at their doorstep. He also expressed governments commitment to the welfare of bar associations. Turning his attention again to the Punjab government, Babar said one of the lawyers representing the provincial government in the court argued in favour of the 18th Amendment, whereas, the other opposed it.
Earlier, he visited the residence of Peoples Lawyer Forum Lahore President Shahid Mehmood Bhatti to condole the death of his father. A large number of PPP workers were also present on the occasion.
http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2010\09\16\story_16-9-2010_pg7_19
