It’s time to return to the system, Khan

• Zardari tells PTI chief mere TORs not enough for judicial commission
• Reiterates support for PM Sharif but says PTI chief should also rejoin parliament
• Asks govt to take parliament into confidence over Yemen conflict, says PPP supports Saudi sovereignty

Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Co-Chairman Asif Ali Zardari on Saturday urged Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan to bring his party back into the parliament and work in coordination with rest of the legislators to strengthen the Election Commission.

The PPP chief also threw his weight behind the government of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif.

Addressing PPP workers in Naudero on the occasion of PPP founder Zulfikar Ali Bhutto’s death anniversary, Zardari said “I congratulate Captain” on the judicial commission, but it is not sufficient to prevent the role of returning officers in the outcome of the elections.”

“I invite Khan to return to parliament so that we could join hands to empower the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) financially,” he said.

“The terms of reference are not enough for the judicial commission,” said the PPP chief, but added that PPP would stand by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif in the hour of need.

Commenting on the situation in Yemen, particularly to Pakistan’s expected role in the conflict, Zardari said that Benazir Bhutto’s book talks of reconciliation with the Muslim countries. “We are ready to lay our lives for Saudi Arabia’s security,” he said, but added that consultation was necessary for taking decisions in the parliament.

“Parliament should be taken into confidence over the Yemen issue,” he said, adding that the Muslim world is being weakened by plunging it into civil wars. “Some foreign powers want to sell their arms to rich countries in the Gulf. As a result, the whole region is at war,” he said.

The former president hoped that Prime Minister Sharif would not make any compromise this time.

He also urged this party’s ministers and members to improve their performance, warning that he won’t award tickets for the next election.

“I admit that we fell short at delivery. I ask my ministers to go to their offices, meet people and address their issues,” he said.

ZAB’S DEATH ANNIVERSARY:

Meanwhile, the 36th death anniversary of Zulfikar Ali Bhutto was observed with great reverence and respect across the country.

Pakistan Peoples’ Party (PPP) and PPP (Shaheed Bhutto) arranged separate functions in this regard.

People from all walks of life in their messages on the occasion paid tribute to Bhutto for his services for the cause of poor and downtrodden people and for progress and prosperity of Pakistan.

The main death anniversary function in-front of the mausoleum of martyrs of Bhutto Family, at Garhi Khuda Bakhsh Bhutto, was cancelled due to the rainy and rough weather in Garhi Khuda Bakhsh, and a limited gathering was held at Bhutto House Naudero, in which leaders and workers of PPP of participated.

On this occasion, Quran Khawani was also held at Bhutto’s mazaar.