PPP for good ties with neighbours

Islamabad: Former Prime Minister of Pakistan and central leader Pakistan People’s Party (PPP), Raja Pervaiz Ashraf on Sunday said that Pakistan has always had a principled position on maintaining good relations with neighbouring countries.

Addressing a press conference here, he said peace in Afghanistan is the peace in Pakistan. Pakistan has made many sacrifices against terrorism. We can’t forget the sacrifices of the martyrs. The country is currently facing challenges and we all have to face the current situation as a nation.

Raja Pervaiz Ashraf said that the government needs to take all political parties on board on national issues. The PPP has always played its role. Three years of the present government have come to an end. The government has not fulfilled its promises to the people. He asked the government to give importance to the parliament and that legislations should be made through public representatives.

He said that the government alone cannot deal with these problems. We all need to sit together to manage the challenges we are faced with. The affairs of the country go beyond personal obstinacy. All our attention should be focused on solving the problems of the country. We are in favour of not interfering in the internal affairs of any country. President Zardari had earlier said that if the government takes steps, we are with it. The government is not succeeding in anything. The government has not been able to address the underlying issues. The country cannot be run by ordinances. The country has serious problems and it wisdom can solve them.

Former Prime Minister said that a government can’t get out of trouble alone. We need to work together for a solution to Afghanistan issue. Pakistan is a responsible country and peace in Pakistan depends on peace in both countries. No country other than Pakistan can be more concerned about the situation in Afghanistan. More than 70,000 people and Pakistani forces have sacrificed their lives.

Raja Pervaiz Ashraf said that Chairman Bilawal Bhutto had said that the PPP is with the government on national issues but the government needs to perform and take initiative. We said that the government should take the opposition parties along. The government did not do what it was supposed to do. President Asif Ali Zardari spoke of economy in his speech in the parliament and improving the economy requires collective effort. The PPP wants that human rights must not be violated. The current government says that the loans taken by the previous governments are being repaid by getting more loans. Is this wise, he asked. There is no better country than Pakistan if the government takes the people along.