Local government polls schedule after provincial budgets approval: Prime Minister

Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz on Friday said the Local Government Election schedule will be announced after all the provincial budgets are approved by the respective provincial assemblies. Speaking at a press conference after the National Assembly approved the Federal Budget for 2005-06, he said, the Election Commission would announce the schedule.
Reiterating his offer to the opposition to join hands with the government in the matters of national importance, Shaukat regretted they boycotted the National Assembly proceedings for good part of the day.
"I feel sorry that they boycotted the proceedings despite government's assurances that the issues they raised would be looked into," he said.
He said he does not want animosity in the House and desires that the opposition and the government should stand united on national issues.
"The problems should be raised on the floor of the House and not on the streets and give a positive message to the outside world."
He appreciated the overwhelming presence of ruling party and its allied members in the House throughout the budget session.
"Around 185 members remained in the House during the budget session and except a few of those who had gone abroad, none of them even went out of the city," he said.
"They fully participated and the atmosphere remained cordial throughout. They acted very responsibly and showed a sense of seriousness," the prime minister added.
To a question about frequent lack of quorum in the House, he said, it would improve in future.
He also acknowledged the participation of the opposition in the budget debate and said they spoke very well on the cut motions, adding that the government also gave its time to them on budget debate.
Shaukat dismissed the opposition claim that the budget was unconstitutional as it was presented without the announcement of the sixth National Finance Commission (NFC) Award.
"When they were in the government, the NFC Award was announced after a delay of 5 to 10 years. Then aren't those budgets unconstitutional too."