Pakistan Views

Minister for Information and Broadcasting Sherry Rahman Monday said Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) will take along coalition partners and all the democratic forces for the strengthening of the democracy in the country.

Talking to a private TV, she said “We will try utmost to take along all the coalition partners and democratic forces who have struggled for restoration and strengthening of the democracy in the country.”

The Minister said it was a time to take back all the powers being taken from the parliament and moving forward for strengthening democratic institution in the country.

To a question she said Pakistan People’s Party and Pakistan Muslim League have struggled a lot for the restoration of democracy in the country.

To another question she said it was the democratic right of the PML-N to have difference of opinion on various issues.

Sherry said PPP honours the sentiments of the PML-N and will take along PML-N on the issues on which both parties have unanimous views.

Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani has said that a meeting of coalition partners is being convened on July 23 and 24 in Islamabad to evolve consensus strategy to deal with a handful elements involved in terrorist activities and creating law and order situation in the country.

Addressing a press conference after his arrival from Islamabad at airport here on Monday evening, the Premier said , “I am inviting heads of all coalition partners including PPP chairman Asif Ali Zardari, PML-N Chief Mian Nawaz Sharif, ANP Chief Asfand Yar Wali and JUI’s leader Maulana Fazalur Rehman to discuss situation prevailing the country especially the issue of terrorism.”

He said country is facing menace of terrorism and suicide bomb blasts and coalition partners would evolve a strategy to deal with it effectively.

Responding to a question about PML-N leaders assertions that they were not taken into confidence regarding operation in Hangu, he said, “It is prerogative of the provincial government as well as district government to call army for its assistance and why should federal government oppose it.”

To a question he said, “Pakistan is a sovereign and independent country, and no country can be allowed to interfere in our internal affairs.”

However, he said, due to incidents of terrorism and extremism, people express concern and media also write about it.

“Most people of the country want peace and stability in the country so that image of the country could be improved as incidents like suicide bombings badly tarnish motherland image aborad.”

Prime Minister said that providing security to life and property of the people is the top priority of the government and it would be ensured at every cost.

He said provincial government had called in army to control situation in Hangu as it had gone out of control of civil administration adding “federal government would provide full support to provincial government in its efforts to ensure law and order.”

To a question that the major coalition partners have failed to reach consensus on various issues including on judges restoration and impeachment of president, the Premier said, “I not only released judges but also ordered for payment of their salaries. Parliament is supreme institution and any further decision in this regard would be taken by it.”

He said the President has said time and again that he accepts Parliament’s supremacy and the mandate given by people in February 18 election adding, ”It is up to the Parliament to take any decision as regards his impeachment.”

He said PML-N and PPP are two different political parties with their own separate agenda and programmes observing “We have joined hands on bare minimum Agenda.”

He said there is difference of opinion between the two coalition partners on the issue of judges but the same would be sorted out and PML-N would not part ways.

Regarding price-hike, the premier said it is international phenomenon due to sky-rocketing rise in prices of petroleum products and food items and no country can remain unaffected from it. ”Protests and riots are being held in different countries across the world against price-spiral.”

However, the premier said government is committed to provide relief to people and meetings of ECC and federal Cabinets are being held here to discuss the issue adding “I want to assure the nation that we would leave no stone unturned to ensure relief to the poor of the poorest.”

About performance of the government during its first 100 days, Gilani said, he could not give details in this regard off hand. ”I will give complete details in my address to the nation.”

He said “As yet we have not completed even cabinet as after the withdrawal of PML-N’s ministers, second and third stage of cabinet expansion was delayed.”

He said the cabinet is being expanded shortly and ministers would hold open kutcheries so that peoples’ grievances are redressed without any delay.

Open debate on national issues is damaging the image of the country, said Pakistan Muslim League-Q on Monday.

Opposition leader in National Assembly Chaudhry Pervez Elahi while talking to media after offering condolence on the demise of former Governor Frontier Fida Muhammad Khan here, said that a condemnation resolution would be submitted in the Assembly against Afghan President Hamid Karzai who threatened to carry out operation in Pakistani territory.

Chief of PML-Q Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain and Secretary General Mushahid Hussain were also present at this occasion.

He said that government is completely failed to resolve the problems of common man who is facing price hikes and deteriorating law and order situation.

Mushahid Hussain said government is begging to foreign countries while on the other hand political tours are being organized on official expenses.

He said that like Benazir Bhutto’s case, a request should be submitted in United Nations to resolve the judges’ issue.

The Supreme Court of Pakistan on Monday has adjourned hearing of Pakistan Muslim League- Nawaz (PML-N) chief Nawaz Sarif disqualification case till 11 August.

Chief Justice Abdul Hameed Dogar has constituted three benches of the Supreme Court for the hearing of hundreds of cases including case of disqualification of former prime minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif and suo-motu case of commutation death sentence into life imprisonment besides others today.

The three-member bench headed by Justice Moosa K. Leghari heard the case of disqualification of former premier Nawaz Sharif.

The Supreme Court has adjourned the hearing of the federation’s petition regarding the Sharif brothers’ eligibility to run for public office till August 11th.

The government presented arguments seeking to have Nawaz’s disqualifications brushed aside, and to restrain the Election Commission from setting up an Election Tribunal to decide Shahbaz’s eligibility.

Deputy Attorney General Raja Rehman while talking to media said that there is no obstacle in the formation of election tribunal by Election Commission in Shahabaz Sharif’s issue.

Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani on Sunday played down rumours about US military action in the tribal regions and said Islamabad will not allow any country to interfere.

The unannounced visit to Pakistan on Saturday by the US Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee Admiral Mike Mullen has raised more questions about the possibility of the American’s action.

“Pakistan is a sovereign country and we will not allow anyone to carry out operations in our territory,” Prime Minister Gilani told reporters. The Prime Minister was quick to add, “We should act as a responsible citizen and should not provide opportunity to any one. What the world would say if terrorist acts regularly take place in our country.”

“Why are you thinking about any foreign act? We are a sovereign country and will not allow any other nation to interfere in our internal matters,” Gilani said. During a short visit to Peshawar, Gilani said Mullen’s trip was a “routine visit aimed at enhancing bilateral co-operation between Pakistan and the United Sates.”

The prime minister condemned the killing of 17 paramilitary troops in the country restive north-west by the local Taliban on Saturday. “I salute the slain soldiers for their bravery. They did not surrender. They refused to hand over weapons to the terrorists,” Gilani said, while paying homage to the dead soldiers.

President Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) Chaudhry Aitzaz Ahsan on Sunday asked the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) led government to honour the promise of its martyred chairperson Benazir Bhutto to reinstate the deposed judges.

Talking to newsmen after meeting with the deposed chief justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry here at his residence, the SCBA President recalled Benazir Bhutto’s speech, saying Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry was Chief Justice of Pakistan and she would herself hoist the flag of Pakistan at his residence. He added that it is now the responsibility of the PPP-led government to fulfil the promise and wish of late Benazir Bhutto.

Aitzaz said he was standing with Iftikhar Chaudhry because of the commitment made by his leader Benazir Bhutto. He also asked the Peoples Lawyers’ Forum (PLF), the legal wing of the PPP, not to play in the hands of the ‘enemies of law’ but follow what their leader had said. To a question, he said lawyers of Peoples’ Party were part of long march, though they had joined us in the end.

He said the legal fraternity would continue its movement until judges are not restored to pre November 3 position. Referring to the statement of Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani as there could not be two chief justices in the country, the SCBA President said the statement of the Prime Minister itself makes it clear that the real chief justice of the country is Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry. Aitzaz termed Abdul Hameed Dogar as ‘illegal’ chief justice.

Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Sherry Rehman said on Sunday that Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) was doing its utmost to keep the coalition working for the cause of democracy.

“We are doing utmost to keep the coalition working and we believe that we will be able to do that,” she told a private television channel.

She said PPP and PML-N have been working under the Charter of Democracy (CoD) for the last three to four years and hoped that PML-N would give favourable response with regard to rejoining the Federal Cabinet.

The minister said PML-N also has a mandate and responsibility in maintaining a stake in the government. Though, PML-N’s ministers were not working on day to day basis but they certainly have input and “we are doing utmost to keep the coalition working with us.”

Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi has said that he had told Bush administration officials during his visit to Washington that while Pakistan will not hesitate from using force where and when required, terrorism could not be fought through military force alone.

“Our strategy is that the military option alone is not enough,” he told a meeting of members of the Pakistani community at the Pakistan House. “This war has to be fought besides the armies, with the help of the people, by winning hearts and minds,” he said, adding that a multipronged approach that combined political engagement with social reforms could effectively fight the menace.

In an effort to address the apprehensions voiced by members of the community over US threats to intervene in the tribal areas, the foreign minister said that Pakistan would not allow its territory to be used by any other country. “Our concerns are known to them and we believe that action in Pakistan will be taken by Pakistani troops. We cannot permit any foreign troops in Pakistan. They are very well aware of the people’s sentiments”.

Qureshi’s address to the Pakistani community was the last engagement of his hectic five-day trip to the United States during which he met UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon, addressed the Security Council meeting on Afghanistan, conferred with US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and National Security Adviser Stephen Hadley in Washington besides a host of other engagements.

The foreign minister spoke for more than an hour apprising the audience of the developments in Pakistan since the emergence of the elected government, the acute problems it was facing, especially the rise of extremism in some parts of the country, the economic difficulties caused by escalating oil prices that spawned inflation and the issue of the restoration of deposed judges. He said that the government was determined to overcome the problems besetting the people and set Pakistan on the path to progress and prosperity.

The audience burst into applause as Qureshi said that the PPP government believed in an independent judiciary and that the judges deposed in the wake of the imposition of emergency last November would be restored. “We respect your wishes,” he told the community members who posed a number of questions on the issue. “Just be patient and bear with us. We will bring them (judges) back with respect and honour.”

Questioned about implications for Pakistan of a UN probe into the assassination of Benazir Bhutto, he said all its aspects and pros and cons were taken into consideration. The request for the probe was based on the aspirations of the people expressed in the unanimous resolutions adopted by the National Assembly and four provincial assemblies.

The people of Pakistan, he said, wanted to get to the bottom of the conspiracy to kill Ms Bhutto, who was not an ordinary leader. That’s why the government sought an independent, impartial inquiry by the UN. While the UN has agreed to set up the commission, its modalities have to be worked out. He said he met ambassadors of the permanent members of the UN Security Council and all of them supported Pakistan’s request for a UN probe.

Closely questioned, Qureshi said the commission’s terms of reference would be carefully drafted so that it does not become “unnecessarily intrusive”. Responding to questions about the timeframe for the commission to complete its work, the foreign minister said the intention was for it to be completed “in the shortest possible time” and not become “a lingering thing, going on for years”.

On Pak-US relations, Qureshi said Pakistan desires a more balanced, broader and longer-term relationship with the United States. “For too long our bilateral relationship has hinged heavily on co-operation in security areas, but luckily there is a clear realisation from both sides that we need to expand our co-operation across a broad spectrum from agriculture to trade, energy and education,” he added. He said the relationship should move away from the “cyclical” pattern of the past. “We want a more stable approach. We have been too focused on military-to-military co-operation and on individuals,” he stated. The US must now work with Pakistani institutions.

Qureshi said the government in Pakistan is seeking a “partnership” with the US and wants tangible signs that the Bush administration will increase aid and embrace Pakistani democracy.

He paid tributes to members of the Pakistani community for the contributions to their homeland’s economic and political development. “You are the ambassadors of Pakistan in this country and we look forward to your work in projecting the true image of the country.” Earlier, Ambassador Haqqani welcomed the foreign minister and urge the community members to sink their differences and speak with one voice. “Unity among you is the need of the hour”, he said.

NWFP Food Minister, Muhammad Shuja Khan called on Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani here at the PM House on Saturday.

The Prime Minister assured Muhammad Shuja Khan that NWFP’s issue of wheat will be resolved in the upcoming cabinet meeting in Lahore.

Gilani said he has specially invited all the four Chief Ministers to attend the cabinet meeting in order to reach consensus on various issues.