Zardari says elections after electoral reforms

By Staff Reporter

KARACHI: Former president and co-chairman of Pakistan People Party Asif Ali Zardari has said general elections in the country would be held after electoral reforms and amendment of the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) laws.

“We have to change laws and improve them and then go to elections,” Zardari told a news conference in Karachi. “Whether it takes three months or four, we have to work on implementation of policies and improving the electoral process.”

PPP leader said he discussed elections timeframe with Mian Nawaz Sharif and convinced him to go for polls as soon as “reforms and low-hanging fruit targets are complete”.

Defence Minister Khawaja Asif in an interview to BBC Urdu service said the possibility of holding elections before November could not be ruled out.

Zardari however said the PML-N leader had expressed his personal opinion.

“The PML-N decided with me that until electoral reforms are brought, there would be no talk about the new army chief’s appointment,” he said.

“Once the electoral reforms have been introduced and the economic situation has improved and the parliament believes it is time to go for elections, polls can then be held.”

Zardari exulted that the army was apolitical for the first time.

“It is good to know that the army can remain neutral and I hope the army continues to be apolitical and any problems that arise can be solved by national representatives.”

About former ISI chief and Peshawar Corps Commander Lt Gen Faiz Hameed, Zardari said the “helpless Faiz Hameed has been sidelined”.

He criticized former Prime Minister Imran Khan for labelling opponents as Mir Jafar and Mir Sadiq. “If anyone can run the country, it is us, not him. His own friends left him because PTI could not fulfil their political commitments.”

Zardari said he had not read the cable that PTI claimed contained proof of a foreign conspiracy to oust Imran Khan.

“I do not believe any US State Department official is irresponsible enough to say what you have read out to me. There is no such thing.”

“They drafted the communique themselves. There could be a diplomatic cable but probably it will not be sent by any state and the PTI should show proof if they have any.”