Zardari for 'financially' independent election commission

LARKANA (Staff Report) – Former President Asif Ali Zardari on Saturday urged Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) to return to Parliament and participate in the legislation process to establish a 'financially' independent election commission in Pakistan.

Zardari, while addressing at a ceremony to mark 39^th death anniversary of PPP founder Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, congratulated PTI Chief Imran Khan and the government over their agreement to probe into the allegations of rigging in general elections 2013. The terms of reference (TORs) of the agreed accord are not enough to establish a transparent electoral process in the country however, he added.

The former president argued that free and fair elections in Pakistan can only be held if there is an election commission who is independent in terms of financial matters. Parliament is the place to bring about a real change, he declared.

Asif Ali Zardari, who is currently functioning as co-chairman of PPP, asked the Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to avoid any decision making about the crisis in Yemen saying “every Muslim can die for the protection of sacred places in Saudi Arabia but we need to weigh our options and consequences”.

I do stand by the current government of Nawaz Sharif but the premier should also support his own government, he urged.

The co-chairman said the people of Pakistan and Afghanistan have seen enough blood spilled and the lives of our children are still under danger.

On the occasion, he also paid regards to the services of former Prime Minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and Benazir Bhutto saying the democracy is fruit of their sacrifices and people must care about it.