ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf on Friday invited opposition to sit with the government and settle issues for holding of free, fair and transparent elections.

Addressing workers of Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) at an Iftar dinner at the Prime Minister House, he said, “instead of levelling allegations and disfiguring faces of each other, we should sit together and resolve issues as was done in the case of appointment of Chief Election Commissioner.”

He said people will decide fate of political parties in the elections and whatever decision they will make, it will be the final verdict.

“We depend on the people and they are with Pakistan People’s Party.” He expressed confidence that the PPP will emerge victorious in the next elections also.

He assured that elections would be held in a free, fair and transparent manner.

The time for elections has approached and the party and its workers are ready to participate in the polls. “Election is our field and we are always ready for it,” he said.

He said Co-Chairman Pakistan People’s Party Asif Ali Zardari has instructed that leaders and workers of the party to begin contacting people in their respective areas and resolve their problems.

He underscored the need for healthy politics saying everybody should shun character assassination, abusive language and fighting in politics.

Ashraf said despite all the mud slinging, media trials and propaganda, people are still connected to the party.

The prime minister said the PPP has a history of unprecedented sacrifices and the great leaders like Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and Benazir Bhutto embraced martyrdom for the rights of people and democracy.

It is uniqueness of PPP that it initiated the vision of political reconciliation and President Asif Ali Zardari took forward this vision and did not compromise on principles, he added.

The premier said the party was removed from power through conspiracies and its detractors were surprised when it made a come back with the support of people even after the suppression at the hands of dictators.

According to the petition filed by Asghar Khan in Supreme Court, money was distributed among political leaders to defeat PPP in elections, he reminded.