Zardari happy as Manzoor Wattoo joins PPP

ISLAMABAD : Advisor to the prime minister on industries and production and veteran politician Mian Manzoor Ahmed Wattoo, along with his associates, joined Pakistan Peoples Party on Thursday. The announcement was made in a reception hosted by Manzoor Wattoo in honor of PPP co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari, which was also attended by Governor Sindh Dr Ishratul Ibad, federal ministers Sayed Khurshed Ahmed Shah, Raja Pervez Ashraf, advisor to the PM on interior Rehman Malik and PPP leader Jehangir Badar among others.
Addressing the ceremony, Manzoor Wattoo reposed his full confidence in leadership of Asif Ali Zardari and said he was joining the party on personal invitation of the PPP co-chairman.
“Asif Zardari called me on second day of the February 18 General Elections and invited to enter into his allies, it was the day of my decision,” former CM Punjab said, adding,” Both of us remained together in jail and made commitment during the odd says that would pass the good days along too.” Wattoo said he had historical relations with Peoples Party and he also led the coalition of PPP and Muslim League Junejo in Punjab province from 1993 to 1995.
He said many people who were on benches in the past, now admit that hanging of Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto was a judicial leader. I acknowledge his services for Pakistan and the nation. He was a great leader and masses were deprived of his leadership.
Manzoor Wattoo recalled sacrifice of Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto and said she was committed to her people and homeland. Even, she devoted her life to save Pakistan and restore democracy in the country. “It was a critical turn of our history when hurt and angry youth of Sindh were chanting anti-state slogans as dead body of Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto reached her ancestral village Garhi Khuda Bakhesh,” he said. “However, I appreciate the role and patience of Senator Asif Ali Zardari, who came out and made them realized that,” we need Pakistan and will remain loyal to it,” Wattoo said, adding,” During those pathetic and crucial moments PPP, like always, came forward to save the country.” Wattoo said his daughter MPA Rubina Shaheen Wattoo, MNA Mehar Saeed Ahmed and many other associated as well as supporters have also joined PPP and they would demonstrate their strength on June 1 when PM Sayed Yousaf Raza Gilani is scheduled to address a public gathering in Okara. PPP co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari, in his address, welcomed Manzoor Wattoo and said their friendship started in difficult days of solitary confinement, so he hopes it would prove to be strong alliance.
Asif Zardari said Pakistan is standing on crossroad of the history where we need aides to strive for maintaining its integrity and sovereignty. This decision of Manzoor Wattoo is demonstration of his farsightedness and political wisdom, he added.
“PPP is symbol of federation which had never left Pakistan even in moments of misery and despair. Today, we need to follow policy of dialogue and reconciliation taught by Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto,” Zardari said. “But, it does not mean that we have accepted status-quo,” PPP co-chairman maintained.
The first point of PPP manifesto is struggle for sovereignty of Pakistan, so we have started our journey from dialogue. We apologized to men fighting on mountains of Balochistan even without their demand, similarly, decided to name NWFP as Pakhtoonkhuwa without persuasion of any party or group from the province.“Pakistan is more vulnerable to danger from these borders, so we have to mend their injuries,” Zardari said, adding,”I am engaged in talks for a One Pakistan with the forces who never turned up on negotiations table in the past.” He said National Assembly and the Provincial Assemblies have backed the demand for UN probe into BB’s assassination and,” those expressing reservations have to go behind majesty and supremacy of the Parliament.”
I was offered to nominate PM in the jail but I never compromise,” today, are the elected Parliament and voice of the people. And every body witnessed that we nominated Yousaf Raza Gilani as PM and got him elected unopposed,” PPP co-chairman remarked.
“Democracy will find further prosperity and it will go ahead. We are not new to the democracy, therefore, we neither need any body’s certificate for it,” he added.
Zardari said next budget will be poor and businessmen friendly as the government is taking all possible measures for betterment of the people.