News
Monday, October 24, 2011
PML-N wants to derail system: PM* Gilani says PML-N’s recent agitation against govt is merely aimed at dissipating Imran Khan’s influence in Punjab
* PML-N is bent on taking unconstitutional steps
LAHORE: Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani on Sunday said that the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) wanted to derail political system in the country.
Addressing a press conference after a meeting with PML-Q leadership at Zahoor Elahi House, he said Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif was merely tarnishing the image of his own fraternity through baseless allegations of corruption but others could also level similar allegations against him.
He said the increasing popularity of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, the expected landslide victory of the PPP in the upcoming Senate elections and the first-ever fifth budget by a political government were irking PML-N and that was why it wanted to derail political system.
Referring to the PML-N rally against the federal government, the prime minister said that Shahbaz should keep Punjab in the mainstream politics, but his actions were isolating the province politically.
He said PML-N’s recent agitation against the government was merely aimed at proving itself a genuine opposition party and dissipating Imran Khan’s impact in Punjab.
He said Nawaz Sharif used Saifur Rehman for political vendetta during his tenure, adding that Shahbaz’s statement about elections was unconstitutional and undemocratic. He said an independent Election Commission (EC) was working in the country and the members of the EC were elected through consensus and consultation of the leader of the opposition in the National Assembly. A notification of the constitution of the EC would be issued soon, he added.
The prime minister said it was amazing why PML-N was bent upon unconstitutional steps when constitutional options were available and added that PML-N should exhibit political maturity.
“It is not sure whether the Sharifs will be part of the anti-government rally on October 28 or not,” he said. Rejecting the idea of any role for the army in politics, Gilani said: “Don’t drag the army into politics. “Afghan President Hamid Karzai’s unconditional support to Pakistan against foreign aggression, India’s vote to Pakistan in the UN Security Council and country’s renewed role in the European Union (EU) reflect the effectiveness of our foreign policy,” he said.
Gilani said he was thankful to the PML-Q leadership for supporting the cause of Southern Punjab province, adding that PML-N chief Nawaz Sharif had also recently announced to support the cause of a new province but it was yet to be seen what stance the PML-N would adopt when the bill would be presented in the assembly.
Earlier, the Prime Minister visited Zahoor Elahi House and held a meeting with PML-Q President Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain and Federal Minister Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi. app
Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk