Mid-term polls: opposition should opt for constitutional path, says Khosa

Punjab Governor Latif Khan Khosa said on Friday that the opposition should opt for constitutional path for midterm polls, instead of processions to destroy public properties. He was addressing members of All Pakistan Textile Mills Association (Aptma) on his visit to dispatch a convoy of 20 trucks carrying relief goods for flood affected people of Sindh.
According to him, the opposition's statement that it does not accept Asif Ali Zardari as President of Pakistan was a rebellious act and is tantamount to high treason as per the Constitution. He posed the question: "Do they accept Obama or Osama as president if they do not accept Zardari as President?" He said that the country needs political stability for economic stability and sit-ins would not give electricity. Criticising PMLN without naming it, he urged its leadership to "grow up and change its mindset" to galvanise energy potential of the country.
The Governor said that he was also shocked over religious parties' processions on Friday against court verdict on Mumtaz Qadri, who riddled 32 bullets through the body of former Governor. He said the religious protestors should not influence the court, especially when Mumtaz Qadri has filed appeal against the verdict. While fearing disruption to the social fabric, he said the internal factors, like undue protests, would ignite instability in the country. He said that Pakistanis should not show such behaviour to the world, and suggested that the protestors should go to the court if they disagree with the verdict.
He said that 1994 was the last year when the country built a dam to generate electricity. Otherwise, huge amount of water with wonderful fall is being wasted. He said that Pakistan has more generation capacity through hydel than combined production capacity of the US and Canada.
He said that 1976 was the year when Tarbela and Mangla dams were built. After that, the usurpers, having no allegiance to the people, politicised the construction of Kala Bagh Dam to perpetuate themselves in power. He also criticised General Zia-ul-Haq for throwing the country into a war that was not Pakistan's war. He said the dictatorial regime coloured that war as holy war.
"Today, "he said, "India has 66 dams against only two dams in Pakistan". According to him, the PPP government under Benazir Bhutto introduced independent power producers (IPPs) in 1994 with a generation capacity of 40,000 MW. But the following governments messed up the project, he lamented. He said that furnace oil was "dust cheap" in 1994.
The Punjab Governor also criticised the business community for not extending ownership to the project of IPPs. He said that electricity generation capacity rose to 19500 MW in 2006 due to BB's policy of IPPs. On recent unprecedented shortage of electricity, the Governor said it occurred due to no release of water from dams amid floods in Sindh, besides other factors like circular debt and power theft. He said the circular debt has gone up to Rs 400 billion. According to him, serious efforts are being made to import electricity and gas from Iran and Tajikistan.
On dengue virus in Punjab, the Governor said that holding of the local bodies' elections could be the answer to dengue in Punjab. A timely holding could enable the local representatives to keep the city clean. He said China killed all bugs and mosquitoes as a national policy.
He said that he was delighted to visit the association of elitist class of people and true manufacturers. He said the country was proud of textile industry, backbone of Pakistan economy. He appreciated Gohar Ejaz for having fathoms of knowledge. He said latest census suggests that the country's population has become 193 million and is likely to touch 300 million in the next few years. According to him, half of the population was under 25 years.