News
Thursday, July 28, 2011
Talk of ‘national government’ is meaningless: Firdaus
ISLAMABAD: Information and Broadcasting Minister Dr Firdaus Ashiq Awan, on Wednesday, said some defeated elements were spreading baseless rumours about the formation of national government.
Answering questions of media persons in a briefing after cabinet meeting, she said almost all political parties are part of the coalition government either at Centre or the provinces, so in such circumstances talk of national government was meaningless.
She said that those who were rejected by masses in elections tried to come to power through backdoor but their wishes could not become reality. Firdaus said that with the support of masses, the government has completed three-and-a-half years in office and would serve masses for one-and-a-half year more to complete its term.
To a question, the minister said that the PPP has already replied to the allegations of Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif regarding judiciary.
The minister said that the PPP respected the institutions and its workers rendered great sacrifices for restoration of the judiciary. She said that the self-proclaimed supporters of the judiciary should first apologise to the nation over attacks on the superior judiciary during their tenure.
Responding to a question, she said that constitution is very clear on the issue of power of executive on transfers and postings.
About the price control issue during Ramazan, she said, after the implementation of 18th Amendment provinces on the one hand have become autonomous, but on the other hand it has added to their responsibilities.
She said they should devise mechanism to form price control committees and take steps to arrest of profiteers as it is now in their domain.
The minister said that prime minister had written a letter to the chief ministers of all provinces for their effective role in price control mechanism.
She said that the federal government through Utility Stores Corporation has approved a subsidy worth Rs 2 billion for provision of relief package during Ramazan and provinces should also announce their own relief packages for the holy month.
Regarding price control, she said that the federal government forms policies but the implementation was responsibility of the provinces.
Replying to a question, she said that Babar Awan was invited to brief the cabinet on legal and constitutional matters as it was within purview of the prime minister. About Karachi situation, she said that a peace committee has been formed and it is hoped that all political parties would play constructive role in restoration of peace in the city of the Quaid. app
Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk