LAHORE, March 28 Former Punjab senior minister Raja Riaz Ahmad has welcomed the announcement made by President Asif Ali Zardari regarding lifting of the governor's rule during his address to the joint sitting of parliament.

Talking to APP here on Saturday, Riaz called the lifting of governor's rule a good step and said that it would help in strengthening democratic institutions.

“The PPP is committed to pursue a policy of reconciliation with other political parties,” he said, adding that PPP legislators in the Punjab Assembly would support the PML-N candidate for the slot of chief minister.

He said the PPP honoured the decisions of co-chairman and the prime minister regarding working relationship with the PML-N and that this would also help in discour- aging 'horse-trading' in the province.

He maintained that the PPP would play its constructive role by sitting in the opposition and it would facilitate the PML-N government to function in a better way.

“Both the PPP and the PML-N should work together for further promoting democracy and strengthening economic condition," he emphasised. - APP