<\/p>\n
\u2022 Bound by father\u2019s advice in family matters, not party\u2019s affairs, says Bilawal
\u2022 Asif says \u2018delimitations necessary\u2019 before elections; PPP leaders also seek poll date<\/p>\n
KARACHI: The house of Zardari seems split over the issue of timely polls, after PPP chairperson Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari publicly disowned a statement made by his father, favouring a delay in elections due to fresh delimitations in light of the census that was approved by the coalition government<\/a> days before the dissolution of the National Assembly.<\/p>\n In an assertive tone, the PPP chairperson on Saturday stated his preference to stick by decisions made by the party leadership, i.e. elections within 90 days, instead of his father\u2019s stance, saying he was only \u201cbound to follow his father in family matters\u201d.<\/p>\n The former foreign minister made these remarks during his visit to the residence of Dr Sikandar Mandhro in Badin on Saturday.<\/p>\n The PPP has taken a tough stance for elections within three months, standing against its former allies<\/a> who seem to be favouring polls after the completion of the delimitation process, which could stretch them beyond the constitutionally-mandated limit of 90 days.<\/p>\n \u201cYou should ask Zardari Sahib<\/em> [why he issued this statement],\u201d he replied to a question posed by a reporter, who referred to his father\u2019s statement in support of elections being held after fresh delimitation.<\/p>\n \u201cI can only say that it was the party\u2019s decision [to demand elections within 90 days]. We both jointly chaired the CEC meeting where our legal experts were sure that the Constitution demands elections within 90 days. I am bound to President Zardari in our family matters, but as far as political matters, the Constitution and party policy are concerned, I\u2019m bound to follow my workers and the decisions of my party\u2019s CEC.\u201d<\/p>\n According to the PPP chairperson, \u201canyone\u201d having objections to party policy should raise it at the relevant forum. \u201cWe have a CEC meeting in Lahore in a few days. If anyone has his opinion, they should share it there.\u201d<\/p>\n Separately, speaking in Hyderabad, the PPP chairperson said, \u201cI believe 90 days time is too long a period and [general] elections should have been held in 60 days time\u201d. He said the Election Commission of Pakistan should announce the polls schedule and PPP should launch its door-to-door elections campaign.<\/p>\n Earlier, Mr Zardari, who is the president of PPP Parlia\u00adme\u00adntarians, apparently un\u00ad\u00addermined his party\u2019s consistent stance in favour of elections within 90 days and supported the ECP on the issue stating that: \u201ccompleting the delimitation exercise was necessary before holding polls\u201d.<\/p>\n \u2018SIFC for economic revival\u2019<\/strong><\/p>\n Asif Ali Zardari also exten\u00added support to the initiatives of the Special Investment Fa\u00ad\u00adc\u00adi\u00adlitation Council (SIFC) \u2014 a hy\u00ad\u00adbrid civil-military forum created to attract investment from the Gulf countries<\/a> \u2014 which is often criticised as a move to institutionalise the army\u2019s role in business and economy.<\/p>\n \u201cThe country is facing an economic crisis. Politics aside, we should all worry about the economy. We all exist as long as the country exists,\u201d said Mr Zardari.<\/p>\n But his son did not agree with this theory.<\/p>\n