News
Friday, May 14, 2010
PM rules out clash among institutions* Gilani says parliament being humiliated over fake degrees issue
* Parties should not give tickets to those with fake degreesBUREWALA/ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani on Friday rejected the possibility of a clash among state institutions, and said the country will be run in accordance with the constitution.
Addressing a gathering near Burewala Degree College, Gilani said all institutions would work in line with the constitution and there was no threat of confrontation among them.
The prime minister said his government would not take any step that could harm the interests of the country.
“We will proceed with the policy of reconciliation, and keep all political forces on board to strengthen Pakistan’s economy and defence and protect the rights of the masses.”
Gilani said those involved in the assassination of Benazir Bhutto “unmasked” and brought to justice. He also reiterated Pakistan’s commitment to friendly relations with neighbouring countries.
Earlier, the prime minister laid the foundation stone of ‘Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto South Punjab University’ in Burewala.
Separately – addressing the National Assembly – Gilani said parliament was empowered to legislate on all issues, and lawmakers should, therefore, also take up issues related to fake educational degrees, as the controversy was disgracing public representatives.
“Parliament is empowered to legislate on all issues ... it should also take [up] issues related to fake educational degrees of public representatives ... [who] are being disgraced ... it is being said that 80 percent of the total parliamentarians hold fake degrees”.
Gilani said it was lawmakers’ responsibility to consider issues related to fake degrees seriously, as people were being deprived of their “fundamental right to be elected to parliament”.
About PPP tickets given to Jamshed Dasti and his own brother Mujtaba Gilani, he said it was a party decision, and – being senior vice chairman of the PPP – he was bound to defend party decisions. He said the party’s parliamentary board had decided to field Dasti from the PPP platform, according to the APP news agency.
He, however, called on political parties not to give election tickets to those holding fake degrees, reported APP.
Defending his visit to Muzaffargarh, Gilani said he did not do anything unethical by addressing Dasti’s election rally in Muzaffargarh, as development projects there were already included in the Public Sector Development Programme. Gilani said he had very good relations with the PML-N, it was heartening to see a PML-N candidate contesting polls against “my brother in Jalalpur Pirwala ... it reflects the diversity in our politics”. staff report/app
Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk