PML-N politically bankrupt, says Manzoor Wattoo

Federal Minister for Kashmir Affairs Mian Manzoor Ahmed Wattoo has said that uncalled for outrageous behaviour of the PML-N during the budget speech in the National Assembly proves that Nawaz league has become politically bankrupt.
"PML-N parliamentarians showed complete disregard to the democratic norms and it merely spoiled its image among the masses as well as political parties", he said while addressing a press conference at his Model Town residence here on Saturday.
He said the PML-N had been politically isolated due to its confrontational policies, adding the PPP government in complete accord with its partners, including ANP, PML (Q), MQM and members from the Fata. Wattoo said the PML-N neither heard the budget speech nor understood it but resorted to unjustified hue and cry in the house under a conspiracy best known to them.
To a query, Wattoo said the PML-N's protest during the budget speech violated the sanctity of the Parliament House, adding such actions reflect their desperation and hopelessness. The federal minister said the Opposition leader in the National Assembly Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan would start budget debate from June 6 (Monday) and the PPP would maintain high democratic values during his speech in the NA. "I would also urge the PPP parliamentary party in Punjab to display best democratic traditions during the budget session of the Punjab Assembly on June 10," he said.
To a question, he said the PML-N should have presented 'Roti' to the Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif and his cabinet rather than Finance Minister Abdul Hafeez Shaikh. He regretted the fact that PML-N had failed to learn any lesson from its past experiences with the Martial Laws and exile, stressing that the PML-N must draw a line between democracy and dictatorship during its protest in the house.
He said the PML-N confrontation could have been justified had there been a despotic set-up in the country, stressing that Nawaz league should not forget the fact that President Asif Ali Zardari is a democratically elected President of the country who has come to power through the vote of the people.
"Gone are the days of inviting the third force against democracy in the country and political leg-pulling", he said adding "PPP government is strictly pursuing Charter of Democracy as envisaged by the Shaheed PPP leader Mohtarama Benazir Bhutto," he replied.
He reiterated the resolve that PPP would foil all conspiracies against democracy as well as democratic institutions in the country. He asked PML-N leadership to show regard for the people's mandate, adding that PML-N should prepare for the next general elections in the country instead of adopting strange tactics. He said the PML-N is awed by the fact that PPP's majority in Senate as well as popularity among the masses would make next elections difficult for the PML-N.
Regarding next elections, he said the PPP government would complete its constitutional term and would come to power through the ballot. About the budget, the minister said the government had provided relief to the masses by allocation of Rs 50 billion for the Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP) and this initial amount would be increased to Rs 65 billion later.
Dispelling any impression about delay in elections in Azad Kashmir, Wattoo said that AK elections would be held on June 26. The Minister for Kashmir Affairs said that PPP government would ensure transparent and fair elections in the Azad Kashmir and would make these elections a model for the world.