News
Saturday, September 18, 2010
Cabinet reposes confidence in Zardari, GilaniConspiracies against govt will be thwarted: Zardari
* President asks ministers not to be deterred by negative propaganda against govt
* World realises stable, democratic Pakistan key to dealing with global issues
* Cabinet resolves to protect democracy, defend constitutional amendments at all cost
Staff Report
ISLAMABAD: President Asif Ali Zardari on Friday vowed that all conspiracies against democracy would be thwarted, as he co-chaired a meeting of the federal cabinet along with Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani at the Presidency.
The participants of the meeting reposed full confidence in the leadership of Pakistan People’s Party Co-Chairman President Zardari and PM Gilani. The meeting also resolved that democracy and the constitutional amendments adopted by parliament would be “defended and protected at all cost”.
Zardari asked the participants of the meeting not to be deterred by the negative propaganda against the government.
The president urged the ministers to strive for strengthening the country economically. “Once we are strong economically, we will be able to tackle all the challenges,” he added. “The meeting reviewed in depth the progress made by the government, the challenges faced by it and the way forward and resolved to continue making strides to strengthen democracy and address the problems faced by the people,” stated an official statement at the end of the meeting that was attended by 40 federal and state ministers and advisers.
The president’s spokesperson, Farthatullah Babar, later told reporters that during the four-hour meeting, participants expressed their views candidly on all political, economic and security issues.
“The meeting also resolved that democracy, parliament and the unanimous constitutional amendments adopted by parliament will be defended and protected at all cost,” he said.
He said the meeting noted that despite challenges and hurdles in its way, the PPP government had dealt with difficulties successfully and made significant achievements on political and economic fronts, as well as in the fight against militancy. President Zardari thanked the international community for its help during the flood crisis. “However, he said that we also have to help ourselves to gain the confidence and credibility of the international donors. For this, we have to generate indigenous resources and then look towards the international community for greater assistance,” Babar quoted President Zardari as saying during the meeting.
President Zardari asked the government to vigorously pursue the issue of gaining more market access to the European Union and the United States. The president described Thursday’s development, where European Union leaders agreed to grant limited trade concessions to Pakistan, as very positive, saying it had raised the confidence level of Pakistan to achieve the objective of getting enhanced market access.
Democratic Pakistan: “The international community has realised that a stable, democratic and prosperous Pakistan is the key to addressing global issues such as counter-terrorism, non-proliferation and counter-narcotics,” the president said.
The president said that such political meetings would be held more frequently. Meeting of the federal council and the parliamentary party will also be held shortly. Taking note of the suggestions by some participants about strengthening the PPP, the president said that as the co-chairman of the party, he would take appropriate decisions in consultation with the party on organisational matters. He added that beginning with Balochistan, where the party organisation was in suspension, all organisational issues of the party would be addressed soon.
Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk