Islamabad: The PPP-led government in
Pakistan will seek a fresh mandate from the people in 2013 on
the basis of its performance, Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza
Gilani said on Saturday, amid opposition demands for early polls.
Gilani made the remarks while addressing a large
gathering at Sargodha in Punjab province after inaugurating
several development projects.
He said that when elections are held in 2013, he would
come to the people and seek their votes on the basis of the
government's performance.
Without naming anyone, he said new entrants in the
political arena, who were talking about a revolution, lacked
the support of the people.
The premier's remarks appeared to be aimed at the
Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaf party of cricketer-turned-politician
Imran Khan, who has been talking of unleashing a "tsunami" to
remove other parties.
Gilani said some parties that came to power using
"crutches" were washed away because they did not have roots
among the people.
New political parties do not have any concrete programme
and manifesto, he added.
The ruling Pakistan People's Party, being an ideological
party, has roots in the masses and derives its strength from
them, he said.
Gilani said major political parties like the PML-Q,
Awami National Party and Muttahida Qaumi Movement were
cooperating with the PPP.
"It is our power that we are going along with all the
parties through reconciliation," he said.
The next general election is scheduled for early 2013
but opposition parties like the PML-N and Pakistan
Tehrik-e-Insaf have been demanding early polls.
They have contended that the holding of polls alone can
help Pakistan face the numerous challenges facing the country.
In recent months, Gilani's government has grappled with
challenges from both the judiciary and the military.
The Supreme Court has been pressuring the government to
reopen graft cases against the President while the Army has
been at loggerheads with the civilian leadership over an
alleged memo that sought US help to stave off a feared coup in
Pakistan after the killing of Osama bin Laden in May last
year.
PTI
First Published: Saturday, January 21, 2012, 23:48