5:32 PM
Wait till 2013, PM tells Opposition
Released on - Monday,17 October , 2011 -15:33
Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani has asked his political opponents to patiently wait for their turn, declaring that elections would only be held in 2013 and not before that.“Those who are dreaming of early polls through dissolution of assemblies or waiting for some miracle to happen would be greatly disappointed,” Gilani said on Sunday while addressing the oath-taking ceremony of the Lahore Press Club office-bearers at Aiwan-e-Iqbal, and later addressing a foundation stone-laying ceremony of Benazir Bhutto Shaheed Lawyers Hospital, to be built on Dev Samaj Road, at the Governor’s House.
Gilani said with confidence that after ZA Bhutto, he would be the first prime minister in Pakistan’s history who would be presenting fifth national budget of his government. He said Opposition did not want PPP to gain majority in the Senate and therefore was trying to dismantle the government at the earliest. The PM said it was the PPP government which resolved the issue of third-term premiership for the PML-N chief Nawaz Sharif. He said he had always shown great respect for Takht-e-Lahore and had attributed his book to the silent majority of the country. The revolution would come only when this silent majority wakes up, he added. He said Salmaan Taseer was no more in this world, but government will fulfil all commitments made by him.
The office of prime minister has become stronger after the president delegated his powers to the parliament, he said. Gilani also paid tributes to President Zardari for giving up his powers, saying even a peon would not surrender his powers. “Gone are the days when prime minister would fight with the president, army chief or chief justice,” he observed in an obvious reference towards Nawaz Sharif who had frequent tussles with the three officers during his two tenures.
Talking about devolution of power to the provinces through 18th amendment, he said if smaller provinces had been granted autonomy much earlier, country would not have been broken and Bangladesh would not have been created.
Gilani said unequivocally that his government will not make any compromise on national sovereignty and integrity. Referring to Pervez Musharraf’s rule, he said that a dictator received a call from America and everybody knows how he succumbed to the foreign pressure. “But when an elected democratic government receives a similar call from the same country, it is told in explicit terms that Pakistan will not take any step against its national interest”, he remarked. He said US special envoy Marc Grossman had been given briefing in the foreign office regarding the All-Party Conference (APC) resolution. He said Pakistan will also take up this issue with Hillary Clinton during her upcoming visit to the country and hoped that Pak-US relations will improve as a result of her visit.
The PM said his government was heading in the right direction and will not do anything against the national interest. The PM said it was for the first time that government made all institutional answerable to the parliament. He said he had asked National Assembly speaker to constitute the parliamentary committee for implementation of APC resolution.
PM Gilani said India and Afghanistan were sovereign countries and had the right to cultivate better relations. Pakistan did not believe in interfering in other countries’ affairs and also did not want any foreign interference in its matters, he added. Pakistan had decided four days back to recognise new regime in Lybia, he revealed.
Asserting that media enjoys ‘exemplary independence’ in Pakistan, Gilani claimed credit for revocation of all ‘black laws’ of the dictator imposed to put curbs on media. The PPP-led government extended unprecedented freedom to the media, he maintained, adding that they repealed the amendments introduced in the PEMRA Ordinance-2002 and Press Laws-2007 by the previous regime, and now there stood no hurdle in the freedom of expression. He said the bill introduced by former information minister Sherry Rehman would ensure that people get their right to information through the media.
The prime minister said press freedom was essential for strong a democracy. “Democracy and the media go hand-in-hand and freedom of the media guarantees sustained and stable democracy”, he added. Gilani said the PPP always supported the cause of free media and the Shaheed party leaders Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and Benazir Bhutto used to attend the protest camps of journalists. He equated PPP’s struggle for the restoration of democracy with media’s movement for freedom of expression.
Acknowledging the role of journalists against dictatorial and autocratic regimes in the country, he said their sacrifices for the freedom of expression and social liberties had paved the way for rejuvenated democracy in the country. Gilani averred his government did not target any poet, journalist, writer or any newspaper or electronic media channel for its differences with the government policies.
Stating that the government was fully cognisant of the fact that media persons are in greater threat than ever owing to the bad security situation in the country, Gilani said the government was extending all possible help to journalists. The government is also giving financial assistance to the press clubs and the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting provides financial help to the families of journalists who become victims of terrorism, he added. The PM on this occasion also announced Rs10 million grant to the Lahore Press Club.
To a question, the premier said a judicial commission has been formed to investigate the murder of journalist Saleem Shahzad. He said the commission was working independently and its findings will be made public. He assured that the government will act upon the recommendations of the judicial commission.
Later, addressing the foundation stone-laying ceremony of Benazir Bhutto Shaheed Lawyers Hospital at the Governor’s House, the PM said that in the coming elections, people would vote for that party which had shown better performance and had a public service-oriented manifesto. He added that PPP was the largest party, having roots in all the four provinces, AJK and Gilgit-Baltistan.
Without naming the PML-N, the PM said that despite having been in power twice, they failed to give a viable manifesto to the people. “When the then General Pervez Musharraf had dismissed his (Nawaz) government, the PPP stood by him to save democracy”, he observed, adding, “the essence of the PPP manifesto is democracy, which is in the blood of its leadership and workers”.
Appreciating the lawyers’ community, the premier said they had restored the dignity and honour of the judiciary through their utmost commitment and determination. He said that all political parties, especially the PPP, stood by the side of lawyers in their movement for restoration of the deposed judges. “Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto Shaheed, had also expressed solidarity with the CJP and hoisted the national flag at his residence”, he remarked.
Gilani said that BB Shaheed had always held the legal fraternity in high esteem during the movement for the restoration of democracy. “The present PPP government is following the vision and mission of Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and Benazir Bhutto,” he said, and added that despite being in power, PPP ministers appeared before courts in various cases to ensure the rule of law.
The PM acknowledged that terrorism was the single major challenge posing a great threat to Pakistan and its institutions. He asked lawyers to play an effective role in the fight against terrorism. “We have to fight out this menace come what may”, he stressed.
Earlier, addressing the gathering, Punjab Governor Sardar Latif Khosa said despite provocative statements being issued by its opponents, PPP was adhering to politics of reconciliation to strengthen democracy in the country.
Evacuee Trust Property Board Chairman Syed Asif Hashmi, Lahore Bar Association President Shahzad Hassan Sheikh, LHC Bar Association President Asghar Gil, People’s Lawyers Forum President Sardar Khurram Latif Khosa and a large number of lawyers were present on the occasion.
