Respect mandate of people, Gilani tells PML-N

Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani on Sunday said that Pakistan had got many achievements on the foreign front, saying its foreign policy was successful. “Afghan President Hamid Karzai’s unconditional support to Pakistan against foreign aggression, India’s vote to Pakistan in the UN Security Council and country’s renewed role in the European Union (EU) reflect the effectiveness of our foreign policy,” he said during a press conference after a meeting with PML-Q leadership at Zahoor Elahi House here.Regarding Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif’s recent statements, the Prime Minister said Shahbaz Sharif was merely tarnishing the image of his own fraternity through baseless allegations of corruption but others could also level similar allegations against Shahbaz Sharif, adding that PML-N’s corruption mantra could not deceive people any more.With reference to accountability of PML-N, Gilani said there was a fine line between accountability and revenge and Nawaz Sharif used Saif-ur-Rehman for political vendetta and victimization during his tenure, adding that PPP had not tried to be ‘bitter’ against opponents for their past mistakes. With reference to PML-N rally against the Federal Government, the Prime Minister said that Shahbaz Sharif should keep Punjab in the mainstream politics, but his actions were isolating the province politically. The people were fed up with ransacking politics, he added.He said PML-N’s recent agitation against the government was merely aimed at proving itself a genuine opposition party and dissipating Imran Khan’s impact in Punjab.Regarding Shahbaz Sharif’s statement to reject elections under President Asif Ali Zardari, he said Shahbaz Sharif’s statement was unconstitutional and undemocratic, especially when the Sharifs had publicly pronounced not to resort to unconstitutional actions for the sake of democracy.He said an independent Election Commission (EC) was working in the country and the members of the EC were elected through consensus and consultation of the Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly. A notification of the Constitution of EC will be issued soon, he added.The Prime Minister said it was amazing why PML-N was bent upon unconstitutional steps when constitutional options were available and added that PML-N should exhibit political maturity.“It is not sure whether the Sharifs will be part of the anti-government rally on October 28 or not,” he said.When asked about his reconciliatory role to bring PML-N out of political estrangement, the Prime Minister said it was yet to be seen whether his role would be required, stressing the general elections were far away and would be held in 2013.Rejecting the idea of any role for the army in politics, Gilani said: “Don’t drag the army into politics. The army is a disciplined institution and it has nothing to do with politics of the country.”About US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton’s recent visit, Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani said there had been marked improvement in dialogue with the US, adding that the country believed in Pak-US relations based on mutual respect and mutual interest.Regarding PML-Q’s support of Southern Punjab province, the Premier said he was thankful to the PML-Q leadership for supporting the cause of Southern Punjab province, adding that PML-N chief Nawaz Sharif had also recently announced to support the cause of a new province but it was yet to be seen what stance the PML-N would adopt when the Bill would be presented in the assembly.With reference to PML-N not wooing PML-Q, he said politics was all about opportunities and PPP had extended a hand of reconciliation to PML-N, adding that PML-Q had emerged as the largest political party of the country after PPP in the 2008 elections.Rejecting the idea that PPP had eased the cause of PML-Q Senior Leader Moonis Elahi’s release, the Prime Minister said Moonis Elahi’s release was the victory of the free judiciary in the country, adding that the PPP government respected all the decisions of the judiciary in letter and spirit.About Opposition’s objection to appointment of Chairman NAB, he said thePresident was constitutionally empowered to appoint the Chairman NAB but the Leader of the House and the Leader of the Opposition were consulted by strictly following the rules, adding that the objections raised by the opposition were uncalled for.Talking about the motives behind PML-N agitation, the Premier said the increasing popularity of Imran Khan’s PTI, the expected landslide PPP victory in the March 12, 2012 Senate Elections and the first-ever 5th budget by a political government in the country were irking PML-N and that was why it wanted to derail political system.He said PML-N should respect mandate of the people as we did in Punjab despite some reservations, adding that the people would elect only those parties to power in the next general elections, which had a better manifesto.On the question of PTI as emerging political power, the PM said people are the real power and the political parties with better manifesto and past service will emerge successful.He said all institutions were working within their constitutional parameters and any allusions to the judiciary were absolutely unfounded.Regarding PPP-PML (Q) alliance in March 2012 Senate elections, Gilani said PPP had won Senate elections unopposed in the Punjab, Sindh, Islamabad and KPK, adding that it would consult PML-Q in the upcoming Senate elections.Earlier, the Prime Minister visited Zahoor Elahi House and held a meeting with PML-Q President Chaudhry Shujat Hussain and Senior Leader, Federal Minister Chaudhry Pervez Elahi. Gilani felicitated the Chaudhrys on the release of Chaudhry Moonis Elahi and discussed prevailing political situation in the country.Punjab Governor Sardar Latif Khan Khosa, PML-Q leaders Kamil Ali Agha, Syed Mushahid Hussain, Chaudhry Zaheer ud Din were also present in the meeting.