As many as 10 candidfates of Pakistan People's Party (PPP) on Tuesday submitted their nomination papers for Senate elections amid slogans of 'Jeay Bhutto'. All PPP candidates came to the office of Provincial Election Commission for submitting their nomination papers along with Chief Minister Sindh Qaim Ali Shah and Speaker Sindh Assembly Nisar Ahmed Khuhro and other leaders.
The PPP candidates, who submitted nomination papers, are included Saeed Ghani (general seat), Dr Karim Ahmed Khuwaja (technocrats) Mian Raza Rabbani (general), Mukhtar Ahmed Aajiz Dhamrah (general), Rashid Rabbani (general seat), Muddassir Sehar Kamran (women), Shahida Rehmani (women), Abdul Hafeez Sheikh (technocrats), Hari Ram (minorities) and Harish Parwani (minorities).
Talking to media, Qaim Ali Shah said that PPP was trying to get all the candidates elected unopposed. "Negotiations are underway with allies in this regard," he added. He said that PPP had always followed the policy of reconciliation and would carry on the policy in future.
On the occasion, Hafeez Shaikh said that democracy was strengthening during the tenure of incumbent government. He termed the present regime as best democratic period of country's history. To a question, he said President Asif Ali Zardari had directed him to submit his nomination paper. He said Rs 900 billion have been transferred to provinces for the first time in the history of the country. He said that Balochistan's budget had been doubled, adding that more than six million people had been given cash assistance under BISP.
Earlier, a joint meeting of PPP, PML-Q and PML-F candidates and MPAs was held at Chief Minister's House with Chief Minister Qaim Ali Shah in the chair. Addressing the meeting, Shah said that the present elected government was committed to follow the policy of mutual understanding, and co-operation as such they had completed four years jointly and InshaAllah the 5th year of the government would also be completed smoothly with the co-operation of all political groups in Sindh Assembly.
He said that under a consensus decision it has been resolved that all political parties in the assembly would display unity, co-operation and with their mutual consensus would distribute seats. "We all want to strengthen democracy and democratic institutions of the country, as such with mutual consensus, unity and joint vision, it is expected that the nominated candidates will return unopposed," he added.
He further said that all MPAs individually or collectively can present their point of view and constructive criticism in the Assembly. Speaker Sindh Assembly Nisar Ahmed Khuhro, former Speaker Sindh Assembly Muzaffar Hussain Shah and Senior Minister for Education Pir Mazharul Haq also spoke.