The Prime Minister, Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani has said that the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) has invited the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) to share the government in Punjab, which the partys Co-chairman, Asif Ali Zardari would decide after his return from foreign tour.
Gilani was addressing the press at old airport, Lahore on his arrival Thursday. Punjab Chief Minister, Shahbaz Sharif and Governor, Salmaan Taseer received him at the airport. He said while landing at the airport, he saw Shahbaz and Taseer shaking hands and there was no rift between them. Senior PPP workers and public service officials were present at the airport.
The PM said the PPP believed in politics of reconciliation, as desired by the late party Chairperson, Benazir Bhutto and the process was part of their constitution. Further, he informed the press that Nawaz Sharif allowed the permission of revision of disqualification petition in the Supreme Court, for which later they themselves opted for.
The PM hoped that the PML-N would become a part of the Federal Government after reinstatement of judiciary and the provincial government of Punjab. He said that the PPP government has no plan to destabilise the political scenario, as it would be determent to the economy rather, it aims at bringing about prosperity for the poor masses of the country. The PM dilated that they would value public mandate and would work for the cause of the masses.
On terrorism, he said his government of the PPP had no new direction as it prefers to go for old formulas of dialogue; development and deterrence to deal with terrorism. About Charter of Democracy (CoD), he said that the PPP will adhere to the charter, applauded the positive role of media and asked them to continue their struggle for establishment of truth. Commenting on Manawan incident, he showed his anguish and asked the provincial governments to be vigilant and take all measures to guard against any possible threat of terrorism.
Talking about the intelligence, Gilani said the agency was organised but he wanted it to be more pre-emptve. The PM said that the inhabitants of Fata, were Pakistani and they supported Muhammad Ali Jinnah and fought for the cause of the country and only handful people are creating trouble in region.
Further, referring to the CoD, he said the PPP would present a resolution in the National Assembly during the session on April 9. The Speaker would form a committee for its implementation and political forces would be contacted for in this regard, he added. Gilani also said they the government of the PPP would never destabilise the continuing political process and would respect the mandate of each other to strengthen the democratic institutions in the country.