Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani has said that the statement of Chief of Army Staff General Ashfaq Pervez Kayani is well taken in "democratic circles". According to him, the "season of rumours" will be over by March 2012. Talking to media persons here on Saturday after a function organised in connection with Christmas, Gilani said that "chief of army staff's clarification is well taken in the democratic circles".
It would certainly help improve the situation, he said, adding that the government and army had remained on the same page during the last four years and worked shoulder-to-shoulder on all the issues.
In reply to a question about the restoration of Nato supply lines, he said that any decision, if taken, would be in light of Parliamentary Committee on National Security's recommendations. In reply to another question, Prime Minister, who linked the current bout of speculations to Senate election, insisted that the "season of rumours" would come to an end by March 2012.
Gilani said the judiciary and army had categorically stated that they wanted democracy to continue in the country and that the Punjab provincial assembly had also passed a resolution in favour of democracy. In response to a query whether the government was contemplating any action against secretary defence, the prime minister said the government did not intend to condemn anybody without hearing him.
Gilani said the government had taken landmark decisions, including reservation of 5% quota in government jobs and services, reservation of seats for minorities in the Senate and declared August 11 as 'Minority Day'. The government had also ensured celebration of religious festivals of minorities at official level and establishment of prayer rooms in all prisons of the country.
The prime minister said that the 18th Constitutional Amendment was passed after a threadbare discussion in Parliament and ensured to minorities their rights in accordance with the Constitution. About gas loadshedding in the country, he said the government was trying its level best to provide relief to the people, but the problem of gas load management is due to shortage of gas. According to him, no government would like to see mass protest against energy shortages.