News
Friday, November 25, 2011
Scandals can’t derail govt: PM* Gilani says fair and transparent elections will be held in 2013
* Those targeting government will be disappointed
* Military, civilian leadership on the same page
ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani, on Thursday, said the government faces no threat from any scandal and those targeting the government will be disappointed. He added free, fair and transparent elections will be held on time in 2013.
Speaking in the National Assembly on ‘memogate’ scandal, which was raised by the opposition leader, Gilani ruled out any threat to the government in the aftermath of May 2 incident, saying the civilian and military leadership was on the same page. He said the government would not look towards any external force in case of any threat, and added that a fair trial would be carried out in the ‘memogate’ scandal on a priority basis to satisfy parliament, nation and the opposition.
“If there were in any threat to the government, we would have looked towards people of Pakistan rather than seeking help from outside,” the prime minister declared in response to severe criticism of the Opposition Leader in the National Assembly, Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan. He said the government is answerable to people of the country, and not to any other force.
He reiterated his government’s commitment to conduct a fair trial into the ‘memogate’ scandal and justified his decision of seeking resignation from the former ambassador to US Husain Haqqani to make the inquiry impartial and fair. “If Haqqani remained as the ambassador, it would have influenced the inquiry,” Gilani noted, saying this move should satisfy everyone.
Gilani observed the former ambassador did not need to contact the US officials through a third person because he had direct contact with them. He said as per the commitment in the National Assembly, he had summoned Haqqani and asked him to resign over the controversy. He, however, declined to speak on the issue, saying the matter is sub judice. Commenting on the Pakistani-American businessman Ijaz Mansoor, who is at the core of the memo scandal, the PM said it was not his job to bring him to Pakistan.
Talking to mediamen after addressing the concluding session of 2nd International Islamic Women Police Conference, the premier said opposition is raising issues but the government has no threat from any scandal and those targeting the government will be disappointed. “Everybody is playing to the galleries,” he added. Some of the political parties are already on the campaign trail, he added.
When asked to comment on the performance of the cabinet, he pointed that Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry had praised Interior Minister Rehman Malik. Gilani said the government firmly believes in democracy and is following law and constitution. “We respect the mandate given by the people to the political parties,” he noted.
He negated the impression that clearance was taken from the military for the appointment of Sherry Rehman as Pakistan’s ambassador to the US. He said as a chief executive, it was his domain to appoint the new ambassador. Military and civilian leadership are on the same page on national issues, he added. Gilani appreciated the statement of PML-N President Nawaz Sharif that Senate elections should be held. Senate elections will be held on time in a democratic manner and the government will win them, he added.
When asked about the progress in Benazir Bhutto assassination case, he said the matter was sub judice. He said the government will take care of the challenges being faced by the country. “Honestly speaking, it will not be easy for anyone to run the government in the face of present challenges,” he said, adding, “We are taking forward democracy in a positive manner, in very difficult circumstances.” To a question whether Imran Khan had the support of the ISI and establishment, Gilani said only people could tell this. staff report/agencies
Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk