Prime Minister recounts his government's achievements

Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani on Saturday said that the passage of amendments to restore 1973 Constitution in its original form without having simple majority was the biggest achievement of his government. Talking to newsmen here at Prime Minister House, the Prime Minister said the restoration of 1973 Constitution was a challenging task when he took over as the chief executive four years ago.
The government accomplished the task with the support of other political parties by passing three constitutional amendments, he added. He said it was the credit of this democratic government which had completed four years of its term and implemented 80 percent of its manifesto to provide relief to the people.
He expressed the hope that the government would achieve consensus in the Parliament on the issue of Accountability Law like it had done with regard to the passage of the amendments. The government had also succeeded in 80 percent implementation of the Charter of Democracy signed between Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto and Nawaz Sharif, he said.
Referring to other achievements, he said the government had taken decisions in the national interest on the foreign policy and made many successes, including access to the European Union market, election to the Security Council of the United Nations and improved relations with neighbours. The Prime Minister said there was no political victimisation during his tenure, no arm twisting and no horse-trading to win political affiliations.
Talking about the challenges being faced by his government during the four years, the Prime Minister said energy crisis, extremism and terrorism remained the biggest challenges, which were inherited by it. He said the government had been taking practical steps to face these challenges and provide relief to the people. He said the government would provide relief to the masses in the next budget in accordance with the available resources.
On the Balochistan issue, the Prime Minister said he had directed the federal law enforcing agencies to extend full co-operation to the provincial government as law and order was the provincial subject. Gilani said on the request of the Balochistan government, "I did talk to law enforcing agencies, I did talk to the Chief of Army Staff, I did talk to the Director General ISI and other officials to ensure that they will extend co-operation to the provincial government to improve law and order situation " in the province.
He said the Balochistan government was satisfied with other issues, including royalty and share from the National Finance Commission Award but it was still facing problems. The Prime Minister said the mandate of the Balochistan government should be respected. "I should respect the mandate of the people of Balochistan, therefore I am consulting with the provincial government of Balochistan for holding an All Parties Conference (APC) on the Balochistan issue," he added.
Prime Minister Gilani said the APC or Jirga could be convened on the request and recommendation of the Balochistan government and consultations were going on in that regard. Answering a question about foreign involvement in destabilising the law and order situation in Balochistan, the Prime Minister said, "We cannot rule out foreign involvement."
He said there were many factors and forces involved in destabilising the law and order situation in the province. Answering another question, Gilani said, "The Frontier Constabulary is bound to assist Balochistan government." He said the Baloch people were as loyal to the country as the people of other areas, but there were some elements, who were creating problems.
Gilani said, "Aghaz-e-Haqooq-e-Balochistan is the start of the provision of the rights to the Baloch people and its completion will ensure to redress their problems." The Prime Minister said he had to sign many files daily and take decisions in the national interest. He said, "I follow rules, I follow Constitution and I don't feel that I had made any contempt."
About the latest directives of the Supreme Court in the implementation on the NRO case, the Prime Minister said he would first consult his lawyer before taking any decision in this regard. He said he had full respect and honour for the judiciary and would take final decision about the future course of action regarding the case after consulting with his lawyer.
Regarding the Pak-US relations, the Prime Minister said the joint session of the Parliament would be held soon in this regard. Pakistan being a sovereign country, is taking all the decisions independently without any pressure, he added. He said, "there is friendship after quarrel" and Pakistan hoped that its relations with the United Stated following the review process would be more stronger as they would have a nod of the Parliament.
Gilani said lack of trust between the two countries was the major hurdle in the bilateral relations in the past and there was a need to take confidence building measures in that regard. Replying to a question about any threat of economic sanctions if Pakistan goes for gas pipeline from Iran, the Prime Minister said there was no such threat.
He said when he talked about 3D,(Dialogue, Development and Deterrence) to resolve the issue of Afghanistan, it was not understood by the international community, who were now talking about negotiations. Gilani said as adopted by the Pakistani Parliament in its joint session that "peace should be given a chance" instead of resolving the Afghan crisis through war, it should be resolved through negotiations and dialogue.
He said Pakistan always supported the Afghan-led and the Afghan-owned reconciliation process and on the request of Afghan President Hamid Karzai, he appealed to all the factions of Taliban to join the reconciliation process. "An independent, stable, strong and prosperous Afghanistan is in the interest of Pakistan," he said, adding, "We want to help the people of Afghanistan for genuine peace there."
The Prime Minister said President Asif Ali Zardari would address the joint session of the Parliament on March 17, which would be the first ever 5th consecutive address of any President to the joint session in the parliamentary history of the country. Replying to a question on the Mehran Bank case regarding distribution of the money among the politicians, the Prime Minister said, "It should have been decided earlier."
About the date of next elections, the Prime Minister said the government would take a decision in that regard after consulting its coalition partners. He, however, said after the 20th Amendment the government had eliminated all the chances for rigging in the general elections and ensured that the same would be held in a fair, free and impartial manner. Even Imran Khan should be satisfied with these arrangements, he added.
Regarding the issue of price hike, the Prime Minister said it was the duty of local governments and it was the responsibility of the provincial governments to hold the elections of local governments. About the accountability of ministers and secretaries, the Prime Minister said he sacked three ministers and many secretaries on the issue of accountability during his four-year tenure.
Replying to question about change in the Federal Cabinet after the Senate elections, he replied, "I cannot rule out the possibility of change in the cabinet." He said those government organisations which are running in losses, their heads would be removed to improve their performance.