News
Tuesday, January 11, 2011
PML-N wants govt to complete its term: Nawaz* PML-N chief tells journalists his party is not seeking mid-term elections
* Denies giving ultimatum to government
Staff Report
LAHORE: Pakistan Muslim League-N chief Nawaz Sharif has said his party does not seek mid-term elections and wants the elected government to complete its full term.
He was addressing a press conference at his Raiwind residence after a meeting of senior party leaders on Monday.
Referring to the use of the word ‘ultimatum’ during presentation of his 10-point agenda last week, Nawaz clarified that he never used it.
He said his party would extend support to the government for the implementation of its agenda after it withdrew increase in petroleum prices.
He said, “I am thankful to the prime minister for his telephone call on Sunday and for his ‘yes’ to the PML-N agenda which is for the development and prosperity of the nation.”
Nawaz said the government should take steps to end load shedding of electricity and gas.
He said the party would submit its 10-point agenda to the PPP government in a couple of days. A four-member committee, headed by Senator Ishaq Dar with Sardar Mehtab Abbasi, Pervaiz Rashid and Abdul Qadir Baloch as its member, has been constituted for consultations with the government on the agenda, he added. He said the country was passing through one of the worst periods of its history and could be steered out of crises only through collective efforts by staying mindful of the fact that military dictators who had overthrown the elected government on the agenda of brining reforms failed.
He said his party had acted as a responsible opposition by reaching out to the government for resolving crises.
“The government should get rid of the officials having bad image and replace them with honest and upright individuals. The government should take back loans availed on political grounds and got waived off subsequently. It should evolve a procedure to fix the prices of daily use commodities. All courts’ decisions, including the one on NRO, should be implemented. Election Commission should be reconstituted. A 30 percent cut in government expenditure should be imposed besides reducing the size of federal cabinet. State enterprises like PIA, Pakistan Steel, Railways, OGDCL, NHA, CAA, PEPCO, KPT and CDA should be reconstituted. Measures should be taken to put an end to tax theft in the Central Bureau of Revenue. People involved in the Punjab Bank and NICL, Hajj, sugar and Agosta submarine scandals should be brought to justice. An independent accountability commission should be put in place as early as possible,” he said.
He said Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani has become a more powerful prime minister after the 18th Amendment to the constitution. The PML-N chief refused to discuss the issue of appointment of Punjab governor. Nawaz demanded probe into the murder of Benazir Bhutto and Akbar Bugti.
Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk