LAHORE: Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani has said that unlike in the past, the government will not succumb to each and every demand of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM), and now onwards only those demands which are in the national interest will be accepted.
He was talking to the Lahore Press Club (LPC) governing body members, headed by its President Sarmad Bashir, at his DHA Lahore residence on Saturday.
He said he didn’t see any grand opposition alliance-making in the country and hoped that the MQM would soon rejoin the ruling alliance. However, he added, if any grand opposition alliance is formed, the PPP government would welcome it.
The prime minister said all past political governments worked under the Army, and if the PPP government is removed through constitutional means, his party would not hesitate to sit on the opposition benches. However, he hoped, the incumbent ruling alliance would complete its constitutional term and it would take the Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid along on all matters.
About relations with the USA, Gilani said the PPP government did not bow down to the American government in every matter, and that’s why it was speaking against Pakistan.
The PM said the federal government did not want any change of government in Punjab and it would not topple the PML-N led provincial government.
To a question, the premier said a case has been registered against former president Pervez Musharraf in Balochistan; however, those demanding action against him under Article 6 should register a case against Pervez Musharraf in Punjab.
APP adds: The PM said it makes no difference for him to be in the government or in the opposition, as he would continue serving masses. Federal Information Minister Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan was also present.
The PM said: “I don’t mind sitting on the opposition benches in the parliament, as I have no lust for power. But my motto is to work for the betterment of the people of Pakistan,” he added.
The prime minister said an effective strategy had been chalked out which would help improve law and order situation in Karachi at the earliest. He said they had given the concept of commissionerate system under which effective governance could be ensured.
Pakistan Muslim League-F Chief Pir Sahib Pagara has also supported the system, he said adding that “We will take all political parties on board while implementing the commissionerate system.”
Gilani said his government had the credit of having resolved all controversial and long-standing issues including the NFC Award, 18th Amendment, internal autonomy of Gilgit-Baltistan, Balochistan Package, as well as waging an effective war against terrorism especially in Swat and other tribal areas. “Though issues are being raised one after the other, the PPP government is settling all these problems in an amicable manner,” he added.
He said the government was keeping in view the supreme national interest while maintaining relations with the foreign countries including the US, adding that instead of bowing to any foreign pressure, we talk about mutual interest. “We will ever do what is in the interest of Pakistan and its people,” he assured.
To another question, he said that in his view non-holding of local government elections means depriving the people of their rights, adding if the Punjab government holds the LG polls, the PPP would extend full support to it. After passage of the 18th Amendment, he said he had asked all four chief ministers to sit together to evolve a uniform policy on the local governments.
The PM said the PPP was following the vision of Benazir Bhutto, who used to say that ‘democracy is the best revenge’.
From the day one, the present PPP government has not resorted to any political vengeance and has been adhering to the politics of reconciliation, he claimed. The PPP government, he added, has so for ensured 80 per cent implementation of the Charter of Democracy.
Under the 17th Amendment, he said, they had ensured the right of becoming prime minister for the third time to Nawaz Sharif, adding that it was the PML-N which itself parted ways with the PPP at federal and provincial (Punjab) government level. However, the PPP would not let the Punjab government to be destabilised, as it wanted continuation of the parliamentary process, so that masses’ confidence in their representatives could be restored.
Gilani said the PPP and the PML-Q alliance was not an individual-to-individual but a ‘party-to-party’ alliance.
To another question, he said there should be more provinces, if people want so, to end their sense of deprivation, citing the founders of 1973 Constitution had introduced the bi-cameral system under which Senate (Upper House) was formed with equal representation from all provinces just to end the sense of deprivation among the small provinces.
To another question, he said the government had added 2,000-megawatt electricity to the national grid, which was not an easy task, adding that other projects of same capacity are in the pipeline. The government inherited the power circular debt from the last regime and resolved it substantially, while the overall subsidy on electricity had been withdrawn just to improve the economic situation, and as on today, Pakistan foreign reserves have scaled up to $18 billion, and exports expanded to $25 billion.
The PM said the government had convened an energy summit last year and a number of measures were decided to save energy but a many other events/issues shadowed these. However, “we are preparing to call such a conference again for an effective implementation of the energy conservation steps.”