KARACHI: Former prime minister Yousaf Raza Gilani announced on Friday that the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) had decided to oppose any further extension in the tenure of the military courts.
“The PPP will oppose it at all costs,” he said while addressing a press conference along with Farhatullah Babar after a meeting of the party’s central office-bearers and senior leaders at Bilawal House.
The meeting was jointly chaired by PPP chief Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari and Co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari while Faryal Talpur, Yousaf Raza Gilani, Raja Pervez Ashraf, Aitzaz Ahsan, Raza Rabbani, Khursheed Shah, Sherry Rehman, Murad Ali Shah and others were also present.
Speaking to journalists after the meeting, Gilani said that the PPP would make no compromises or deter from its stance on the 18th Amendment.
“We restored the constitution of 1973 and would defend the 18th Amendment at all costs,” he said and condemned centre’s decision to take back the ownership of some institutions handed over to the provincial governments after the amendment.
He also expressed the hope that the new chief justice would take the case of the late PPP founder Zulfikar Ali Bhutto to its logical conclusion.
“We have always done what is best for the masses and the country. The PPP will raise its voice for the provision of rights to the people and won’t ever succumb to any pressure,” he said further.