Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani said here on Sunday that elections in the country would be held in 2013 on schedule and those who are eager to see them earlier should wait for their turn. He was speaking at oath taking ceremony of Lahore Press Club new office-bearers, led by its president, Sarmad Bashir.
The Prime minister announced a grant of Rs 10 million for the press club with the promise that proposal should be sent on the lines of promise of President Asif Ali Zardaris to give Rs 2,00,000 per plot grant for the society plus availability of soft loans, and he would approve it.
Referring to sacrifices given by journalists, he said that media are totally free these days and relations between free media and democracy are inter-linked. He said nobody would be allowed to hinder free access to information, adding that the government had stretched much to consolidate this. He said the government had been bearing criticism earlier and would also do so in future.
Gilani said that he does not believe in giving press advice or enforcing sensor of the press and would take measures to activate Press Council in the country.
The Prime Minister said that steps of November 3, 2007 had been nullified, adding that the government was committed to flourishing free press in the country. The PM said in the spirit of democracy they want to take others along with them, and added that President Zardari had given his powers to the prime minister.
The Prime Minister mentioned passing of 18th Amendment, NFC Bill, giving provincial autonomy to smaller provinces, Balochistan Package, making of Baltistan province, and said that these were their achievements. He said they had made issue of Kashmir international, adding that Constitution of 1973 had been put in earlier form by the government of PPP. Talking of giving autonomy to provinces he said that if this had been done earlier Bangladesh would not have come into existence.
Quoting previous governments he said they had not taken pressure of US like them and would tell Hillary Clinton in her visit the importance of cordiality of relations. Stating about role of their government stance on issues such as Raymond Davis, Osama Bin Laden, harsh statements of US, he said they had called All Parties Conference (APC) on these.
Regarding issue of third term of prime minister he said that it was the choice of the people, whom they elected. He said that he had regards for 'Thakt -e-Lahore'.
Prime Minister Gilani said that time had gone when a prime minister conflicted with Chief of Army Staff and Chief Justice of the country. He said country forces have respected the Parliament taking them into confidence. He said decision had been taken four days earlier to give recognition to new government in Libya. A large number of journalists were present in the oath taking ceremony.
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