News
Tuesday, March 22, 2011
Gilani takes allies on board on Zardari’s addressGovernment to continue reconciliation policy: PM
* Gilani says democracy solution to all problems facing country
* President’s address will extend an opportunity to treasury and opposition for productive debates
ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani on Monday took on board all the parliamentary coalition parties and partners before President Asif Ali Zardari’s address to the joint sitting of Parliament today.
Addressing the parliamentary leaders of coalition parties from the Senate and the National Assembly at the Prime Minister’s House, Gilani said that the government would continue its reconciliation policy.
Gilani also took the coalition leadership into confidence on the president’s address on Tuesday, and contacted leader of opposition in the National Assembly, Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan, Sindh Governor Dr Ishratul Ebad, Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman, Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif and Senate Deputy Chairman Mir Jan Muhammad Jamali.
The prime minister said it was a moment of pride for the democratic forces of the country, as the fourth parliamentary year would start with the address of the president to the joint session.
He said that it was a manifestation of the fact that democratic norms were gaining strength in the country. It was most unfortunate, Gilani added, that during the previous regime the president had not addressed the parliament in almost nine years, which was a constitutional requirement.
Prime Minister Gilani, while highlighting the importance of the president’s address, said, “It accords an opportunity to place before the parliament the agenda and the future policies of the government for the welfare of the masses”.
He said it would extend an excellent opportunity both to the treasury and opposition benches for productive debates in both the houses of parliament. Gilani said that the present coalition government from day one had left no stone unturned for strengthening parliament and meeting the constitutional obligations.
The prime minister said that democracy was the solution to all the problems the country was facing and also the only means to strengthen institutions.
Mentioning the government’s policy of reconciliation and consultation, Prime Minister Gilani said it was a new trend in the national political culture and would go a long way in addressing major issues of people at large.
The meeting also offered fateha for the victims of drone attacks and the Balochistan mine blast.
The meeting was attended by Minister for Commerce, Makhdoom Amin Fahim, Minister of Food and Agriculture Senator Israr Ullah Zehri, Leader of the House in Senate Senator Syed Nayyer Hussain Bokhari and others. app
Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk