Government not an aggrieved party: Kerry told

Minister for Information and Broadcasting Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan said Thursday that the government of Pakistan has told US Senator John Kerry in categorical terms that Raymond Davis case is sub judice and only courts will decide his fate.
While addressing her maiden press briefing after the first meeting of new federal cabinet here she said the President, Prime Minister and other Pakistani leadership made it clear to him that as Pakistan cannot interfere in the process of other countries judicial matters, similarly no other country can interfere in the affairs of Pakistan's judiciary.
She said that the government was not an aggrieved party in the case and if the aggrieved party agrees on Qasas and Diyat, it has this right. She said that law enforcement agencies of the Punjab Government were handling the case and the Federal Government was co-ordinating with them. The minister said that the Cabinet discussed the Raymond Davis case and it was updated on the legal implications of the issue.
The Cabinet directed that the courts should be facilitated and it should be ensured that no one else interferes in the courts' proceedings so they can decide the matter. She said that there were 19 agenda items out of which some were taken up while some others were deferred.
The minister said that being the first meeting of the new cabinet, the Prime Minister appreciated the performance of the previous Cabinet and asked the new one to take result-oriented steps. The Prime Minister asked the members to adopt those measures which provide relief to the masses and ensure that red tape or any other laxity on the past of government functionaries do not create impediments in the government resolve.
She said that during every federal government meeting an hour briefing would be given to it about the price index of daily use items, so that the government can evolve strategy in collaboration of the provinces to stabilise the prices. While discussing the reconciliation policy of the government, the Cabinet expressed its satisfaction over the ongoing dialogue with Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz).
The minister said that the Cabinet also discussed the security challenges being faced by the country and stressed for better co-ordination among the ministries to make performance oriented strategies to root out the menace of terrorism and extremism from the society.
To a question Firdous said that the ministries of Law, Interior and Foreign Affairs were co-ordinating to finalise a strategy on the issue of Raymond Davis. The government response would be based on facts, she said adding that there would be no compromise on the solidarity, integrity and interests of the country.
About allotment of some other Cabinet portfolios, she said that this issue was not discussed in the Cabinet, as such matters are discussed at the party level. To a question about the role and performance of the Ministry of Information, she said that in the 21st century, media is one of the major image building tools in the world. But she said that unfortunately in Pakistan it has not happened so far.
"We need help of the media to rebuild the soft image of Pakistan both at home and abroad," she added. The minister assured the media that the government fully believes in freedom of expression and it would take all possible steps in this regard.
She said that after taking charge of the Information Ministry, she would bring impact-oriented changes in the ministry as it is a bridge between the government and the masses. The minister said that there was a huge gap between the government and the private media, and she desired to consult it on matters of national interest.
Replying to a question on Supreme Court's direction for termination of services of contractual employees, she said that the government would submit its response in the court and it would implement its decision Secretary Ministry of Information Taimur Azmat Osman and Principal Information Officer Shah Zaman were also present during the briefing.
Our Islamabad reporter adds: The government allowed a select group of ministers to speak publicly on the delicate issue US citizen Raymond Davis, who is facing trial for murdering two Pakistanis in Lahore. Addressing the newly formed federal cabinet, Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani directed that only those ministers who were authorised could speak about the issue of detained US official, as the matter was sub judice in Lahore High Court.
Prime Minister welcomed the elected members of new cabinet and expressed the hope that they would perform according to the will people. He said it was his belief that holding of public offices was a noble trust and dignity of this office must be guarded at all costs. Unfolding the future strategy of federal government, prime minister said his government would focus on addressing issues that have direct link to the life of common man till general election. One of the plan is, he said, expansion the circle of Benazir Income Support Programme which was worked out in consultation with the provinces.
The improvement in security situation, economic development and infrastructure development would be focused on as these would directly provide benefits to the public. Prime Minister Gilani hoped that the new Cabinet would work with energy and experience and live up to the expectations of the masses.
Since 2008, he said that the government had spent much of its energy in introducing structural reforms, which reflect the supremacy of Parliament. Sustainable macro-economic stability, balanced foreign policy, strong defence, elimination of terrorism, distribution of the finances for the provinces and the federal government, helping the agriculture sector and giving due rights to the people of Balochistan are focal points of government, he added.
Prime Minister further said that certain sections of the society show their distrust in the institutional ability of the government in handling the matters of national interest. He said new cabinet would help the government to dispel this impression. He said they were proud members of the party of late Zulfikar Ali Bhutto's and Shaheed Mohtarma.