News
Monday, October 04, 2010
Ready to take tough decisions in national interest* Gilani says govt believes in cooperation with judiciary
* Everyone must wait for SC decision on Swiss cases
* Army is pro-democracy, everyone should have complete confidence in it
LAHORE: The government is ready to take “difficult decisions in the larger interest of the nation”, Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani said on Sunday in response to a question regarding an “in-house change” since he has the backing of the House.
Talking to reporters during a meeting with representatives of the print and electronic media, the PM said the federal government believed in cooperation and reconciliatory attitude towards the judiciary as well as other institutions, adding the government would accord more independence to the institutions in the country and strengthen them.
When asked whether he still believed his government was faced with the “conspiracy of the pen”, Gilani said no conspiracy could be hatched against anybody if the institutions were strong, adding, “There can be no trap because there is a realisation within parliament that we have to protect democracy.”
Swiss cases: He said the government was duty-bound to follow the directions of the courts, adding that it had submitted a review petition in the apex court regarding the Swiss cases against President Asif Ali Zardari and everyone must wait for the decision.
Regarding the Pakistan Army’s role in the flood relief efforts, Gilani said everyone should commend the role of the army in flood relief, adding that the army was a part of the government.
Army: He said the army was a highly professional and pro-democracy institution and people should not have the misconception that there were two parallel governments.
Commenting on the foreign media’s speculations regarding a meeting between the prime minister, president and the army chief, the premier said the meetings pertained to routine issues as well as defence-related matters and people should have complete confidence in the army.
CoD: Gilani said the Pakistan People’s Party government had implemented 27 out of the 32 clauses of the Charter of Democracy, while it had won seats in all parts of the country in the recently-held by-elections.
Regarding the opposition’s vehement criticism against the government, the prime minister said the government was ready to reform itself in the light of their advice, adding that he would even resort to cutting down the size of his cabinet, if need be. app
Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk