Raza Rabbani, Leader of the House in Senate, meeting journalists in a meet the press here Thursday at a local hotel announced that new NFC Award would be announced in few weeks time.
He said that Award would form part of the next budget and would be announced under a civilian government by the Prime Minister and the powers which were contrary to the Constitution conferred upon the President for the purpose by the previous chief ministers would be nullified.
Raza Rabbani said the government has sought the names from the provinces for Finance Commission in this regard, he added. He said that issues of water and others between the provinces would be presented in the Council of Common Interest (CCI) and this council would play its full part under the coalition government, he averred.
Regarding his visit to the provincial capital of Punjab, where he met the Speaker of the Assembly and the chief minister during the day said that when he took over as Leader of the Senate, he decided to tour all four provinces to increase rapport between them and the Senate on issues. He said country's Senate was a symbol of the federation and would play its part in this regard. The Senator answering to a query on situation in Fata and Wana areas said that government policy here was three-pronged which comprised having a dialogue; development in the affected areas; political measures, including selective use of force. He said the civilian government would embark prudently on the issue and would not repeat the mistake of backlash during previous regime tenure.
Responding to a question regarding treatment meted out to Makhdoom Ameen Faheem, he said that in political parties differences sometimes do erupt. However, there was nothing desperate to worry about in this regard, he pointed.
Regarding a flurry of questions on their coalition government status and relations between two major parties - PPP and PML-N - Raza Rabbani said that under a well conceived plan hatched by followers of the authoritarian regime propaganda of weakening of political government had been orchestrated. He said the present coalition government had not come into existence by charity but by the will of the masses that was overwhelmingly portrayed in the February 18 election in the country by the masses.
Talking about Article 58(2)b of the Constitution, the Senator said no body dared think about use of this. Talking about reinstatement of judges, he said that the Law Ministry was already working on this and soon avoiding a clash between institutions a solution would arrive.
Rabbani divulging on possibility of impeachment of the President said that when the coalition government had the required majority, this resolution would be presented before the parliament.
The Senator during the day also met Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif, Speaker Rana Muhammad Iqbal and Deputy Speaker Rana Mushood of the Punjab Assembly. Talking to journalists in the assembly premises, he said that coalition government was strong enough to withstand challenges and the parliament would complete its five-year tenure. Regarding the role of an important national intelligence agency, he averred that its political role was agreed upon by them to put at halt while coming into power by the coalition partners.