LAHORE, Aug 21: Governor Salmaan Taseer on Thursday announced the PPP Punjab parliamentary party’s decision to nominate co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari as the presidential candidate, claiming that all those in alliance with the party agreed on it.

He said the decision taken through a resolution adopted unanimously by the parliamentary party would be submitted to the PPP’s Central Executive Committee for approval during its meeting scheduled to be held in Islamabad on Friday (today).

“It is the PPP’s right to have its nominee elected as the next president. The decision has already been conveyed (to the allies) probably without any public announcement. The MQM has supported the idea and the other parties will soon follow the suit,” he said while announcing Mr Zardari’s nomination, along with PPP parliamentary leader in Punjab Raja Riaz, at a news conference at the Governor’s House.

He, however, said it was the democratic right of every political party to reject the proposal when asked what the PPP would do if the main ally, PML-N, opposed the nomination of Mr Zardari.

PPP Punjab ministers, MPAs and office-bearers were present at the news conference.

“Getting Mr Zardari elected as the new president is our right as the PPP is the largest political party, having representation in the centre and all provinces. We want all other parties to support the decision because a civilian president having support of all the provinces will greatly serve the cause of democracy,” the governor said.

Replying to questions, he said the PML-N and other forces would support the nomination of Mr Zardari. Asked what would be the policy of his party if the PML-N decided to field its own candidate, he said it was the democratic right of everyone to oppose the decision, but the PPP would contest the presidential election in any case.

He said judges would be restored as the PPP had agreed on it. “The restoration is only a matter of time. The PPP has crossed all barriers and restoration of judges is no big issue. But, the important thing right now is the presidential election.”

The governor said it was premature to tell what would be the conduct of the new president. But Mr Zardari had already announced that the PPP wanted to eliminate the presidential powers of dissolving the assemblies.

He averted a question regarding a case against Mr Zardari reportedly being tried by a Swiss court, and said there had been cases against politicians. “We are at a critical juncture, and more ways will soon be cleared.”

He also parried a question regarding the PML-N’s initial objections to his appointment, saying he was the choice of the PPP. He said he was a representative of the PPP and not Gen Musharraf (retired). “I will resign if asked by the PPP, and not on the demand of any Tom, Dick and Harry,” he said.

When asked about the chances of the removal of the federal or the provincial governments, he said the PPP did not want to dissolve the Punjab government or create any problems for it. “We are supporting it from the day one as we want the system to continue,” he said.

He rejected a question asked to know whether the ruling alliance faced disintegration after the departure of Musharraf. Martial laws, dismissal of governments and governor’s rules were things of the past, he said.

He said the PPP was taking all political forces along all over the country for the first time in its history and avoiding negative tactics. “In recognition of this role and the PPP’s stature as the biggest representative party in the country, we all must support its presidential candidate,” he demanded.