President Asif Ali Zardari has said the party will sit in opposition in the Punjab Assembly and the PML-N should give up the PML-Q forward bloc. Addressing the parliamentary meeting of the PPP Punjab at the Governor House on Sunday, the PPP co-chairman said governor's rule in the Punjab would be lifted immediately after the prime minister sent him an advice to this effect, while it depended upon the PML-N how it dealt with the PPP in the Punjab.
PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari also addressed the party MPAs amid loud slogans of 'Zinda Hay Bibi Zinda Hay' and 'Jeay Bhutto'. Besides, Punjab Governor Salmaan Taseer, PPP Secretary-General Senator Jehangir Badr, Parliamentary Leader in the Punjab Raja Riaz Ahmed Khan, Punjab President Rana Aftab and Information Secretary Dr Fakhruddin Chaudhry were also present.
During his 20-minute-long address, the sources said, President Zardari said the PPP wanted to promote national reconciliation and to respect the mandate of all the political forces. The sources said the president asked his party members not to be worried as they were enjoying power at the Centre and in three provinces.
He said the PPP would play the role of opposition in the Punjab and it depended upon the PML-N whether or not it was willing to work with the PPP in a coalition. About his experience with the PML-N, he said it was a tough rival as well as a tough friend. In case the PPP became a coalition partner, its MPAs would have to be respected by the PML-N, said a senior PPP leader quoting the president. Asif Zardari also said the PPP didn't favour the formation of a forward bloc and would discourage it.
According to sources, the president slammed his critics and said he had even pardoned those who had filed fake cases against him. He said he spent several years in prison and faced hardships but didn't make any deal with rulers. Without mentioning the names of critics, the PPP co-chairman said he could have saved his skin while signing a deal like "friends" but he didn't bow before anyone.
About the reinstatement of the judges, Asif Zardari said the judges were not reinstated under any pressure, rather they were restored at the right time keeping in view the public aspirations. He said the PPP always upheld the democratic norms and strove for strengthening Pakistan and promoting politics of reconciliation.
Then his lips fell off.