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Friday, June 04, 2010
‘Campaign’ against democracy will be foiled, says Gilani* PM says those who tolerated dictators for nine years are now unwilling to see democratic system work
* Parliament not a rubber stamp
* People, media and international community will never accept any unconstitutional step against democracyBy Saeed Minhas
BRUSSELS: Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani on Thursday criticised the “campaign” against democracy, saying the system was here to stay and all such conspiracies would be foiled.
Addressing the Pakistanis living in Belgium, Gilani said the people of Pakistan had always supported democracy and would continue to do so as they believed that it was the only thing that could provide them relief in the long term.
He said those who tolerated dictators for nine years were not willing to see the democratic system work, but vowed that conspiracies against democracy would be foiled.
The prime minister said the former president was forced to doff his uniform when he came under pressure by the United States and the European countries. He said all political governments were packed in the name of ending corruption, but no dictator ever managed to eliminate corruption.
Gilani also dismissed those who were critical of parliament and said it was parliament that restored the constitution of 1973 to its original form and brought in the 18th Amendment showing great political maturity. Gilani said the parliament was not a rubber stamp.
The prime minister also criticised those who were against the National Reconciliation Ordinance (NRO), saying no one questioned the creators of the NRO. Gilani said the NRO was crafted against those who refused to bow before the dictators.
Regarding the energy crisis, the prime minister said even though there were no quick fixes, the government was working on short-, medium- and long-term projects to meet the shortfall.
Gilani made it clear that the people, the media and the international community would never accept any unconstitutional step against democracy. Gilani said the judges of the superior courts were restored through his executive order, adding that it was he who had given the order to release the judges from jails.
He also referred to the shortage of 5,000 megawatts of electricity in India, saying that there was load shedding in Bangladesh and Nepal but no one criticised the government there. Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi, Commerce Minister Amin Fahim, Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting Sumsan Bukhari and other parliamentarians were also present.
Later, talking to office-bearers of the Pakistan People’s Party, Gilani said the government believed that the only way forward for Pakistan was to adopt a policy of political reconciliation and consensus to overcome the challenges it was confronting.
He informed them about the measures his government had taken to bring economic stability in the country.
He said the government was determined to address all problems the people were facing through prudent management.
Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk