PPP wants to promote politics of reconciliation: Raja Riaz

LAHORE, There is no question of shaping out any strategy for the next general elections which are quite distant but the names of candidates for by-elections for provincial seats from Jhang and Bahawalpur can be finalised during the current visit of President Asif Ali Zardari here, Senior Provincial Minister Raja Riaz stated this Thursday while talking to media at the Governor's House. "In the given conditions in the country we want to promote the politics of reconciliation and in this regard we are proceeding ahead after tolerating many things", noted the Minister. He expressed the confidence that President's current visit would prove to be a milestone in addressing all such matters. Raja Riaz said President Zardari has stated in clear terms that democracy must be strengthened, adding that continuation of the democratic process and growth of political institutions is important for all as this can give a chance even to others (political rivals) to come into power. To a question, he said that Chief Minister's tour to Turkey was earlier planned and stressed that the impression that he deliberately refrained from staying and welcoming the president were just a baseless misconception and rumour mongering. Raja Riaz said President Zardari would invite Chief Minister Punjab Mian Mohammad Shahbaz Sharif and all the members of the cabinet and that a meeting with them was likely. Senior Minister said that President Asif Ali Zardari during his current visit to Punjab would address public meeting in Faisalabad and Pakpattan and he wants to meet thousands of PPP workers and people from various walks of life. However, he said that due to security reasons Punjab government has taken certain measures.