Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani has said that making new provinces will not weaken Pakistan. Speaking to media persons here, he said, "In future we will also have coalitions." He added that the PML-N itself parted ways with the coalition government. He said that the PPP would continue the policy of reconciliation.
The prime minister said that the situation in Karachi was being brought under control through talks. He said that economic stability is directly related with political stability and efforts are being made to control inflation. Prime Minister Gilani said that talks are being held with ISAF and Nato to prevent attacks on Pakistan territory from Afghanistan. He said that after the Raymond Davis affair and the Abbottabad operation, there has been increase in tension between Pakistan and the United States. The Prime Minister said that during his tenure there has been a 3000 MW increase in electricity.
He said that he may be the prime minister but that he is also bound by party policy. The Prime Minister pledged to take across the board action against anti-social elements without showing any leniency to them for restoring peace to Karachi. The prime minister said this while addressing a large gathering of people including notables of the area, party workers and office-bearers at Circuit House. He said that any criminal, terrorist, or militant, if found guilty of killing innocent people in Karachi, would be sternly punished. The PM also strongly criticised land grabbers and extortionists. He said the land grabbers should vacate the state land within one month, otherwise the government would have to act to get its property vacated. The state land is the property of the government and the trust of Pakistan and its people.
Gilani said: "We would not tolerate militant wing in any party". The PM said that Islam preached brotherhood and love and it gives the message of peace. He said that Islam had never supported terrorism or extremism.
He said that some elements, who are only a few in number, are trying to hurt the true image of Islam through their nefarious activities. The Prime Minister expressed resolve to remove the sense of deprivation of the people of under-developed areas, which remained neglected in the past.
He recalled that the sense of deprivation prevailed among the people of Dhaka before 1971. The country would not have witnessed break-up had the voice from Dhaka was heard and proper steps taken to end their sense of deprivation, he added. The Prime Minister said that there was a sense of deprivation among the people of southern Punjab. The people want their rights protected and "we will support them to remove their six-decade long sense of deprivation. It is our responsibility to act in accordance with their aspirations."
He said that some people were issuing statements to weaken the stance of the people of southern Punjab. Some people had objected to the word 'Seraiki' but flower would give fragrance no matter what name it was given, he added. He said that the government was moving forward in the right direction and would solve all the problems of people.
Prime Minister Gilani said that a new era of revolutionary development would usher in the area. Its pace of development would match with that in other parts of Punjab, he added. Prime Minister Gilani said that the government respects the institutions and it stands committed to strengthening them.
He said that the country was passing through a difficult phase but the Government was determined to take it out of the crisis and resolve the problems being faced by the people. Gilani said the government would take all steps to empower people, particularly the womenfolk, as by doing this it would follow the vision of Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and Benazir Bhutto.
He said that the Pakistan People's Party (PPP) remained steadfast to this policy and added its leaders and workers had sacrificed their lives for getting it implemented. He said that dictators had martyred Zulfikar Ali Bhutto but he still lives in the minds and hearts of the people and his philosophy has been adopted even by the new generation. He said that the government had taken many decisions of national importance and these included restoration of 1973 constitution to its original form. It had implemented the Charter of Democracy, carried out Fata reforms, announced NFC Award, granted Gilgit Baltistan rights, besides solving the problem of Kala Dhaka.
He said that it was the duty of the government to help the people resolve their problems. He said the government would always do its best to perfrom this task in a dignified manner.
Prime Minister Gilani said on Wednesday that it would be appropriate for the provinces to hold local elections for local bodies on the basis of computerised electoral rolls. The prime minister said this while he was talking to a delegation of resident editors of newspapers, journalists, intellectuals and columnists at the Circuit House. He said that according to the Election Commission of Pakistan the computerised electoral rolls would be completed by April 2012 while the next general elections were scheduled to be held in the year 2013. He said that it would be appropriate time for the provinces to hold local bodies elections after computerised electoral rolls had been finalised.
He said that Pakistan considers the United States an important country and it desires to have good relations with it on the basis of mutual respect and equality. The prime minister said that relations with the US had strained after Raymond Davis incident and US the unilateral action it took in Abbottabad. He said presently the two countries are holding talks but it would take some time to improve relations with the United States.
The prime minister in reference to attack from Afghanistan side in Chitral said that both countries had suffered losses in their fight against militancy. He said the relations between Pakistan and Afghanistan had improved in their effort to fight the common enemy.
He said, however, some forces wanted to hurt the relationship between Pakistan and Afghanistan. He said that the military leadership had briefed him on the incident. Senator Salahuddin Dogar, MPA Abdul Qadir Gilani, PM's media co-ordinator Rizwan Alam, MPA Nazim Hussain Shah, Mohammad Amir Dogar, Ahmad Hassan Dehar, PPP district president Khalid Hanif Lodhi, city president Khursheed Khan, other party office bearers and workers were present on the occasion. Later the prime minister exchanged Eid greetings with the people at the local Circuit House. He went up to every person present there. He very warmly greeted every individual and wished him Eid Mubarak.