'Government to further empower election commission for transparent polls'

Federal Information Minister Muhammad Ali Durrani has expressed the resolve of government to further empower the Election Commission under constitutional parameters in consultation with opposition to make sure the transparent elections in the country.
"We have issued four point agenda for building a national consensus between government and opposition and it would deliver and lead country towards right path and strengthen democracy", Durrani said while addressing "Meet the Press" Programme of Rawalpindi-Islamabad Press Club (RIPC) here on Friday. Mushtaq Minhas President Press Club, Secretary Afzal Butt and other office bearers welcomed the minister at his arrival.
Elaborating the government agenda, Durrani said, "The first agenda point is government, opposition and intellectuals of country would unanimously decide that in future change in government would only be made by vote", and added "The second point is empowerment of election commission for transparent elections, while third point that everyone would accept the supremacy of constitution and fourth point that Pakistan and national interest would be made first and foremost priority."
The minister said that government would appreciate the positive recommendations of the opposition regarding the four point agenda to create a congenial atmosphere. "Present government put country on path of democracy, development, prosperity and we want to continue the process and take opposition along in best national interest", he added.
Durrani said that Pakistan want to continue the peace process with India to bring normalcy in relations and help the region to prosper. "It is India which breached peace by involving Pakistan in Mumbai blasts maliciously and by resorting firing on Line of Control", he added.
Talking on no confidence move by opposition, Durrani said that government was eagerly waiting for the move, but after passage of 18 days of the deadline no move was brought. "We are waiting for move and to help opposition by prolonging the parliament session. But we are sure that they would not dare to bring any such move", he added.
"It was irresponsible attempt of the opposition as there was no reasonable politician among them. Only Maulana Fazlur Rehman is sensible person in opposition and he is outside Pakistan", he said while responding to a question and added that MMA by extending its co-operation to ARD has given indication of the political immaturity.
He said that whole stressed of the President Musharraf's government during its seven year tenure was to strengthen three important institutions of the state including parliament, judiciary and media. He said that it was for the first time in Pakistan that parliament completes its tenure.
He said that the independent and powerful judiciary has resulted in easy access to justice and apex court took suo moto actions in many important issues. Many petitions were filed against the decisions of the government and judgements were given against government, he said. Freedom of expression given by present government has led the country to become a symbol of free media in the world, the minister said adding "One can judge the freedom of expression by seeing today's media openly criticising government".