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Jehangir Badar refutes any contacts with PML

RECORDER REOPORT

LAHORE: The Secretary General of the Pakistan People's Party (PPP), Jehangir Badar, refuting any contacts with the Muslim League, said on Saturday that there is big difference between the thinking of both the parties, as PPP wants fresh elections and restoration of democracy, while Muslim Leaguers are only interested in restoration of their government.

Addressing a press conference at the Lahore Press Club here, he said that his party wants restoration of democracy as a result of free, fair and impartial elections. He said that the PPP would not opt for a situation like before October 12, 1999. He said that nobody protested in favour of Nawaz Sharif after his dismissal, which made clear the reality of "mandate" to his government.

He told that Grand Democratic Alliance (GDA) and PPP were not in favour of running any movement because the current situation was not in favour of it. He said that the Chief Executive had promised to restore the democracy and he should be given opportunity to fulfil his promise.

Badar said that the cases instituted by the Ehtesab Bureau of Nawaz regime against Benazir Bhutto, and PPP leadership should be reinvestigated. He said that if chairman of the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) had given any statement in this regard it was welcome.

He also demanded that the references sent by the PPP against Nawaz Sharif and companions should also be investigated.

Badar, who was flanked by PPP Federal Council General Secretary Khalid Ahmed Khan Kharl, Benazir's spokesman in Lahore, Naveed Chaudhary, PPP Punjab Secretary Information Qasim Zia and Munir Ahmed Khan, also distributed an opinion of two US jurists David Harwell and Burley B. Mitchel, who in their remarks had said that Benazir Bhutto was not fairly tried.