Local government elections: Workers will be taken into confidence on party candidates: Pervaiz Elahi

Staff Report

LAHORE: Pakistan Muslim League (PML) workers will be taken into confidence while nominating party candidates for the forthcoming local government elections, said Chaudhry Pervez Elahi, the Punjab chief minister, on Tuesday.

Addressing an Iftar dinner, which he hosted for the PML workers on Tuesday, he asked the party workers to thwart nefarious designs of the politicians who took advice from abroad to harm democracy in the country. He said that sincere party workers would be encouraged and brought forward.

The chief minister said that Pakistan was at the verge of bankruptcy when President Pervez Musharraf took over in 1999, but the economy was now flourishing and the country had achieved a dignified place in the comity of nations. “Gen Musharraf is a patriotic Pakistani and a great reformer,” he said.

Mr Elahi asked the PML’s district office-bearers to reorganise the party at grass root level. He said that the party’s reorganisation process had been completed in 24 districts with consensus and the same spirit would be shown in other districts. He said, “A strong Muslim League guarantees a strong Pakistan.” Earlier, Mian Shamim Haider, the federal minister for railways, called on the chief minister and discussed ongoing development projects in Punjab and reforms in Pakistan Railways.

Mr Elahi said a better transportation system was necessary to promote economic activities.

Renowned squash player and former world champion, Jan Sher Khan, also called on the chief minister and discussed promotion of squash in Punjab. Mr Elahi said the government had allocated funds for the promotion of sports in the province and hoped Pakistan would regain its position in the international squash. He said the ministry of sports should take guidance from Mr Khan.

Mr Khan said a squash academy had been set up to train new players and thanked Mr Elahi for his interest in the promotion of sports.

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