Federal Information Minister Sherry Rehman on Wednesday said that the new democratic setup would need sometime to gain strength and to be able to face challenges new government has inherited from the outgoing government. She was addressing a press conference at the Bilawal House after her arrival from Islamabad.
At the outset she offered her apologies to journalists on the rough attitude of law enforcement personnel, party workers and other officials who had subjected them to humiliation at the airport where she was expected to address the media.
She said that all "black media laws" would be changed and measures would be taken to ensure access to information becomes possible. She expressed her reservations about Pemra and hinted at clipping its wings.
Rehman said that the country was in financial crisis. The economy is in shambles, budgetary deficit is yawning, privatisation proceeds have been misused, current account has increased beyond controllable limits and the exchequer seems empty. "The new government has to deal with these and many other similar issues."
She said that the outgoing government was not accountable to anyone. "But we are open. We would let people know about our actions, decisions and future plans. There will be accountability across-the-board and each rupee spent by the government will be accounted for."
Rehman said that privatisation proceeds were used for non-development expenditure instead of retiring foreign debts. Billions of dollars were received by Pakistan after 9/11 incident in the name of war on terror and development work in the NWFP border area, stock market scandals were covered up and financial institutions were given free hand to ruin the national economy.
She said that it is fragile democracy and it would take some time to gain strength. "The only way is to forget the past and move forward after taking all the stakeholders on board. We believe in accommodating differing point of views and would like to do whatever is possible to keep democracy in place. We will strengthen it jointly."
She said that no decision about MQM has been taken so far. "But Asif Ali Zardari will meet MQM leaders today (Wednesday) and try to reach some conclusion." She said that the resolution regarding holding inquiry into the assassination of Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto would be looked into by the ministry of foreign affairs. "Each issue would be looked into by the ministry and the right decision would be taken."
Rehman said that PPP suffered the politics of 'witch-hunt". "We know how witch hunting makes life miserable. We have suffered it. We will not let this happen to anyone, may be our opponents."
To a question about promises made by the PPP and its allied partners in the government of national consensus, Rehman said: "We will have to tone down both our assessment of situations and statements. There shouldn't be anymore politics of slogans. We should face the truth and ensure concession to differing views. Needs of the people should be met, and democracy dividend reaches people should be our endeavour."