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Sunday, July 10, 2011
PPP won't let Punjab govt to be destabilised: Gilani
* PM says there should be more provinces if people want so g Govt is keeping in view national interests while maintaining ties with foreign countries
LAHORE: Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani has said that Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) will not let the Punjab government to be destabilised, as it wants continuation of the parliamentary process, so that masses’ confidence in their representatives could be restored
He was talking to Lahore Press Club’s governing body members who met him at his DHA residence on Saturday under the leadership of their president Sarmad Bashir.
Federal Information Minister Dr Firdaus Ashiq Awan was also present on the occasion.
Replying to a question, the prime minister said there should be more provinces, if
people wanted so to end their sense of deprivation, citing founders of the 1973 Constitution had introduced the bi-cameral system under which Senate (Upper House) was formed with equal representation from all the provinces just to end the sense of deprivation of small federating units..
Gilani said it made no difference to him to be in the government or in the opposition for public service.
The prime minister said it was not necessary that one should be a prime minister or on treasury side to serve the masses. “I don’t mind to sit on opposition benches in parliament, as I have no lust for power but my motto is to work for the betterment of the people of Pakistan,” he claimed. To a question, the prime minister said that an effective strategy had been chalked out that would help improve law and order situation in Karachi at the earliest.
He added that PPP’s government had given the concept of commissioner system, under which effective governance could be ensured.
“PML-F chief Pir Sahib Pagaro has also supported this system,” he said, asserting, “We will take all political parties on board while implementing the commissioner system.”
Gilani said that it went to the credit of his government to resolve all controversial and long-standing issues, including the NFC Award, 18th Amendment, internal autonomy of Gilgit-Baltistan, Balochistan Package, as well as waging an effective war against militancy, especially in Swat and other tribal areas. “Though issues are being raised one after the other, the PPP government is settling all these problems in an amicable manner,” he boasted.
He said the government was keeping well in view the supreme national interest while maintaining relations with the foreign countries, including the US, adding, instead of bowing down to any foreign pressure, the government talked about mutual interest. “We will do what is in the interest of Pakistan and its people,” he said.
To another question, he said that in his view, not holding local government elections meant depriving people of their rights, adding, if the Punjab government held the LG polls, the PPP would extend its support in this regard and he, as prime minister, would also support it.
After the 18th Amendment, he said that he had asked all four chief ministers to sit together for evolving a uniform policy on local governments.
Gilani said that PPP was following the vision of Benazir Bhutto, who used to say that “democracy is the best revenge.” appCourtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk