News
Tuesday, February 14, 2012
Coalition partners vow to stand by PM
ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani, charged with contempt of court, moved his coalition partners immediately after his appearance in the apex court. The allied expressed solidarity with him in a meeting held at the Prime Minister’s House. Gilani, facing most crucial crisis in his four years’ tenure as a prime minister, discussed the situation with all his coalitions partners after his indictment in the Supreme Court. The beleaguered prime minister got a big boost from his allies when they showed complete solidarity with his government. The meeting was attended by Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid President Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain, Awami National Party leader Asfandyar Wali, Muttahida Qaumi Movement parliamentary leader Dr Farooq Sattar, FATA Parliamentary Group leader Munir Khan Orakzai, Interior Minister Rehman Malik, Minister for Religious Affairs Syed Khursheed Shah, Minister for Water and Power Syed Naveed Qamar, Railways Minister Haji Ghulam Ahmad Bilour and MNA Raja Pervez Ashraf. The meeting also discussed the current political situation in which it was agreed that they will continue to work together for continuation of the political and democratic process in the country. They also resolved to continue to work to strengthen the democratic dispensation in the country. Earlier, the allies also expressed their solidarity with the prime minister when they arrived in the apex court during the hearing of the prime minister. On the Supreme Court premises, Asfandyar declared that Gilani was his prime minister and his party would support him, come what may. Shujaat also extended his support to the prime minister and said that he gave a good advice to Gilani as he did when Pervez Musharraf was at the helm of affairs. He said that in case a new prime minister has to be brought in, it would be from the PPP ranks. Separately, senators and members of the National Assembly (MNAs) hailing from different parties called on the prime minister at his Parliament House Chamber and appreciated his conduct in the Supreme Court, saying it amply manifested the esteem he holds for the judiciary and the rule of law. They said that the prime minister was welcomed in the House as he was welcomed the day when he was unanimously elected as the prime minister about four years ago. They assured that they would continue their wholehearted support for democracy and the supremacy of parliament. The prime minister thanked the parliamentarians for their support and assured them that they would collectively strive to uphold the cause of democracy in accordance with the constitution, which clearly defines the role of all the institutions of the state. Those who called on were senators Almas Parveen Baloch, Syeda Sughra Imam, Minister for Textile Makhdoom Shahbuddin, and MNAs Imtiaz Safdar Warraich, Qamar Zaman Kaira, Dr Atya Inyatullah, Tassaduq Khan, Shagufta Jumani, Dr Muhammad Ayub Sheikh, Sufyan Yousuf, Haidar Ali Shah, Mufti Ajmal Khan and Pir Dilawar Shah. tanveer ahmed
Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk