News
Sunday, July 01, 2012
New PM won’t write Swiss letter* Raja says his govt ‘will not let first-class president surrender to a third-class magistrate, as constitution stands against it’
* Zardari enjoys immunity
* Institutions should work within their ambit and let people decide about future of democratically elected govt
By Kashif Hussain
LAHORE: Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf said on Saturday his government would not let its “first-class president” to surrender to a “third-class magistrate” because “we believes in supremacy of the constitution and law”.
“He (Asif Ali Zardari) is the democratically elected president of Pakistan and as per law he enjoys the immunity as long as he holds the office,” the prime minister told reporters. About the Supreme Court’s directive to write to Swiss authorities to reopen graft cases against the president, the prime minister said he would announce his decision on July 12, the next date of hearing at the court.
Raja said there would be no problem if all the institutions function within their constitutional limits and domains.
“The institutions should work within their constitutional ambit and let the people decide about the future of the democratically elected government,” he said during a meeting with senior columnists and editors at the Governor’s House.
Raja urged all the stakeholders to respect the constitution and work within the constitutional parameters in order to avoid instability in the country. The prime minister said he was willing to talk to the PML-N over the appointment of chief election commissioner (CEC), adding that he was optimistic that the opposition party would respond positively on the issue.
“I respect the PML-N leadership and mandate of the Punjab government,” he said.
He said that although his statements in the past about ending load shedding were still hounding him, it was fact that the government had been doing its best to end this menace “as soon as possible”.
He said that due to high prices of oil in the international market, the cost of electricity had been increased in Pakistan.
About the law and order situation in Karachi, the prime minister said that it was a provincial matter but his government would extend help to the province if it asks for it.
The prime minister said the PPP had not stepped back from its stance on the creation of a separate province for the people of southern Punjab.
Later, talking to PPP Punjab’s parliamentary party, Raja advised party members to start preparations for the next general elections because “they are soon to be held”. He said his government would hold elections in a free and fair manner.Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk