Entire political leadership united on national issues, says Gilani

Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani on Wednesday said one has the right to think of in-house change but as far as issues of national importance are concerned the entire political leadership is united. Talking to media persons here on Wednesday after the 10th session of Working Women Assembly jointly organised by the European Union, Unifem and Alliance against Sexual Harassment (Asha), Gilani said that political leadership is united on the issues of national importance.
In reply to a question about Maulana Fazlur Rehman's decision not to rejoin the government, the Prime Minister said the Maulana has always supported democracy and stood by the government on all issues including 18th and 19th Constitutional Amendments. However, he did not answer when asked whether he would try to persuade Maulana Fazlur Rehman to reconsider his decision.
Earlier, speaking as chief guest to the working women assembly, the Prime Minister announced appointment of Musarrat Hilaly as the first women Ombudsman to provide legal forum to working women to take their grievances for just resolution. He said that December 22 would be celebrated as National Day of Pakistani Working Women. The Prime Minister said women and minorities are his constituencies and it is top most priority of his government to protect their rights.
"We have decided to officially celebrate February 12 as "Day for Pakistani Women," he said. Gilani also mentioned the steps Pakistan People's Party had taken for the welfare of women and said it was his party that had made women rights as part of the party manifesto. We have kept the tradition of the party and after coming to power in February 2008 election appointed women heads of nine degree awarding universities. Today, he said that a first women pilot has been inducted in PIA and similarly women are working in police force, army and other institutions.
We have for the first time appointed a women member of Planning Commission and special advisor to the Prime Minister. Gilani said legislation for protection of women at workplace was unanimously approved by the parliament and it was being implemented on fast track basis. The code of conduct has been finalised by 38 out of 42 institutions to implement the law.
The Prime Minister also gave awards to the institutions where women are working as well as to his principle secretary Nargis Sethi and member of Parliamentary Caucus in recognition to their efforts for cause of women. Speaker National Assembly Dr Fehmida Mirza, Minister for Women Development Dr Firdoos Ashiq Awan and Special Assistant to the Prime Minister Shahnaz Wazir Ali also spoke on the occasion and vowed to continue struggle for the cause of women. Dr Fehmida Mirza said the government would soon place before both the houses of the Parliament a bill on domestic violence for approval.