Gilani bows to PML-N demands

[Lahore_Real_Estate]

ISLAMABAD (January 10, 2011) : Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani on Sunday bowed to 10 key opposition demands to shore up his government after a week in which the ruling party for a brief period lost its majority in parliament.

The move was the latest sign of the beleaguered government's willingness to compromise for staying in power amid ongoing fears that the fragile ruling coalition could collapse and plunge the country into fresh crisis.

Speaking at a press conference after talking to PML-N leader Nawaz Sharif on telephone, Prime Minster Gilani said that the government was ready to implement the 10-point agenda of Pakistan Muslim League-N (PML-N).

"We must avail the opportunity, if the opposition offers its support to the government in resolving the issues confronted by masses. We are friends...we are not masters, and we should work together," he added.

He said that he had talked to the head of parliamentary parties and they all had assured him of their respective parties' co-operation to implement the agenda, and steer the country out of the prevailing crisis.

The main opposition PML-N, led by former prime minister Nawaz Sharif, had demanded that the government should investigate corruption scandals, reduce non-development spending by one-third, and set up an independent election body.

One of the 10 demands, that a controversial fuel price hike be reversed, was met by the government on Friday, when it caved in to pressure from MQM to restore its majority in parliament.

The PML-N, which focuses much of its criticism of the government on allegations of corruption, often linked to President Asif Zardari, has given the government 45 days to implement the demands.

"I telephoned Nawaz Sharif, and conveyed a positive response to his ten points. There were talks of ultimatum, but Sharif denied it, saying that he had not given any ultimatum, and if the government responds to his ten-point agenda, his party (PML-N) would play its due role," PM Gilani said.

About PPP and PML-N coalition government in Punjab, he categorically stated: "No way to part ways with ruling coalition (PML-N) in Punjab".

On Friday another leading political party, the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) , rejoined the government, restoring the prime minister's majority, after the PPP caved in to its demand to reverse fuel prices hike that international backers insisted was necessary to bolster the ailing economy. With the MQM lawmakers back on the treasury benches, Gilani again controls a slender majority of 185 seats in the 342-member lower house of parliament.

Sharif's party is in opposition in the federal government, but rules the government of the Punjab, the country's most populous province. It had threatened to oust the PPP from the provincial administration if it did not meet its demands within six days. Gilani's government feared that loss of power in Punjab could trigger political unrest at the country's centre.

When asked why he had become a target of opposition parties, Gilani said that he was not the ultimate target; rather the main target was President Asif Ali Zardari. "I am not the target at all...the target is President (Zardari) and those who criticise the president won't succeed in their motives as long as I am here," he added.

About changes in blasphemy law, Gilani said the government has no intention to change or repeal the law. "I have already clarified, and our religious affairs minister has also said that we have no intention to amend this law," he said.

Govt, opposition agree to pursue 10 points of PML-N: Gilani

APP adds: the prime minister said the government, its allies and opposition parties in the parliament have agreed to pursue a common national agenda to overcome economic and political challenges.

He said Nawaz Sharif expressed his readiness to form a PML-N committee headed by Senator Ishaq Dar to reach a consensus with government for implementing a 10-point agenda.

Before responding to the proposals of Nawaz Sharif, the Prime Minister in the evening telephoned President Asif Ali Zardari, PML-Q President Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain, MMQ Chief Altaf Hussain, PML leader Pir Pagaro, JUI-F chief Malauna Fazlur Rehman, Aftab Sherpao and leader from FATA Munir Orakzai, who extended their support to his political initiative.

The Prime Minister said he had full backing of PPP for his parleys with the political leadership.

He said Nawaz Sharif told him that a deadline would not be an issue if PML-N saw progress on the issues raised by it.

The PML-N chief also assured of his party's support to the PPP government at the centre and provinces, saying PML-N would not want to disturb the government.

The Prime Minister said the government would continue its policy of political reconciliation with the help of which in the past the parliament unanimously passed 18th and 19th amendments and NFC award was approved.

The Prime Minister informed that in the first phase Steel Mills, Railways and Pepco would be restructured to stem losses to the national economy.

The Prime Minister said the issues of immediate concern raised by PML-N would be implemented on priority while other issues will be worked on in the long term.

Emphasising the need for political and economic stability, he said PPP never resorted to blackmail PML-N government in Punjab and voted with it in the provincial assembly.

Gilani said during his time in office he approved 10,000 files and only four to five cases came under criticism and those were also reviewed by him.

The federal secretaries were appointed through Central Selection Board and favours were not made on basis of personal liking, he added.

To a question, he said mere allegations were raised against his children and courts could be approached with evidence on them.

Responding to a question about cases of corruption against ministers, he said some matters are before the courts to decide.

The Prime Minister said only one case out of 8034 cases under NRO was raised which showed bias and he was criticised with the aim to eventually target the President.

Gilani said investigation into the assassination of late Governor Salman Taseer was a sensitive issue and it should not be politicised and report on it will be made public at the completion of probe.

The Prime Minister said the political leadership would evolve a strategy to plug the gap in revenue of Rs5 to Rs6 billion every month, which has been generated from petroleum products.

The government temporarily revised its decision to raise price of petroleum products in consultation with parliamentary party leaders, he added.

He said the issue of abolition of Education Minister in centre would be brought before the Council of Common Interests (CCI).

The Prime Minister observed that the establishment was pro- democracy and PPP for the first time was on the right side of establishment.