LAHORE: PPP co-chairperson Asif Ali Zardari sees no room for technocrats (government) and dictators in the prevailing situation.

Speaking at a reception given by Manzoor Wattoo and a meeting of women wing activists here on Tuesday, he said dictators and technocrats could neither develop a country nor run it as only politicians were running the countries the world over.

He said Pakistan always progressed when politicians were in power.

Alluding to the `humiliating’ attitude of the media towards politicians, he said some people associated with TV channels had the mentality of Gullu Butt and that the political activists would have to change this mindset.

Says media belittling politicians

He said that such a humiliating treatment was never meted out to politicians anywhere in the world. He cautioned that if continued the attitude could discredit the politicians in the eyes of the masses, leaving them unable to lead the country.

“Allah Almighty has bestowed us with all the resources to progress as a nation. What we need is patience and a tendency to respect each other. The politicians should be respected. The armed forces and other state institutions should be respected.”

Referring to the support various opposition parties extended to Nawaz Sharif in the ongoing political crisis, he said in an unprecedented show of solidarity the parliament stood with the prime minister.

He wished that those talking of resignations should join the proceedings of parliament and raise their point of view there.

He recalled that slain PPP chairperson Benazir Bhutto had once stated before the Supreme Court that her mandate had been stolen but she never made it an excuse to boycott the parliament and derail democracy.

Referring to the efforts the government was making to bring foreign investment, he said investors were wooed through policies and claimed that the PPP had the policies that could attract investors.

He said given another chance to rule the country, the PPP would induct some businessman as prime minister.

Recalling his tenure as the president, he said he tried to evolve a system instead of indulging in confrontation with any institution.

Mr Zardari promised to the participants that the PPP would not become a B-party of the PML-N government rather it would criticize the Nawaz government on issues and throw challenges on the economic front.

But, he added, the PPP would not go to the extent of fall of the parliament.

He said his daughter Asifa Bhutto would soon join active politics after completing her education and urged those in attendance to also bring their new generation into the political arena.

He said he would return to Lahore after Oct 18. The PPP leader announced setting up of a fund for the victims of the Line of Control firing.

Published in Dawn, October 15th, 2014