PPP to move resolution in Punjab assembly for new province
LAHORE, Nov 5 (APP): Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani on Saturday said Peoples Party will move a resolution in Punjab Assembly for creation of a new province. Talking to the media after inaugurating the Paksat-1R Communication Control Facility at Kala Shah Kaku here, he said Nawaz Sharif has supported creation of a new province in his speech in Dera Ghazi Khan.When the resolution for the new province will be moved it will be known whether PML-N government supports it or not.He said a separate province is the longstanding demand of people of southern Punjab and it will be created with the backing of the people.The Prime Minister said the new province could be given any name as it makes no difference.“One can give any name to a flower but its fragrance remains the same,” he added.
Prime Minister Gilani said that centuries ago, Southern Punjab was a separate province having totally different traditions, values, culture and customs.
 Replying to a question, he said the PPP strongly believed in democracy and had rendered supreme sacrifices for it. Its leaders had even laid down their lives for the rights of people.
He said the democratic process could not be contained, and those, who wanted to do politics or hold processions and public meetings, could do so. The PPP would rather facilitate them instead of obstructing them.
However, the political parties should not issue statements that hurt the sentiments of others, he added.
 Responding a question about the statements of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) for overthrowing the Federal Government, he said,“We have been hearing such statements since 2008 and if they (PML-N) have the strength to topple the PPP-led democratic government, they are free to do so.”
 Gilani added, “Everybody knows that the PPP is the largest and only party having roots in all the four provinces, Azad Jammu and Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan and it has the capability to deliver. Whoever is in the government, he has to face criticism, and we welcome it with an open heart.”
 He said that the PPP has been bifurcated in Punjab just to ensure an effective communication for party re-organisation at grassroots level, especially in rural areas.
When a reporter quoted the US administration’s statement that America would now conduct drone attacks on Pakistani soil but with the permission of the Pakistan government, the Prime Minister said the statement had proved the fact that the PPP government had never permitted the US drone attacks on Pakistani soil.
 “We are not among those, who bow down (before the US) on a single telephone call, but we have resisted all those demands, which were against national interest,” he observed.
 The Prime Minister said the PPP-led democratic government had always kept national interest supreme, while formulating a policy on any matter. It had been proved at the All Parties Conference that the entire nation was united for the interests of Pakistan.
“We are a responsible nation and prefer to use diplomatic channels, which is an appropriate and effective way to sort out any issue,” he added.
 Replying to another question about Imran Khan’s demand for declaration of assets by politicians, the Prime Minister said that it was Imran’s democratic right, however, he should know, “No one (politician) can become a member of parliament without declaring his/her assets details before the Election Commission.”
 About the Kalabagh Dam, Gilani qustioned that why the governments having two-third majority or the 10-year dictatorial regime had not constructed the dam.  None of the past governments in 65 years had ever allocated a single rupee in their respective PSDP for the Kalabagh Dam, he added.
He added all mega projects should be initiated after evolving consensus among all the four provinces and other stakeholders.
The present democratic government has approved the Diamir-Bhasha Dam as all the four provinces agreed to the project, he said.
 The Prime Minister said, “We have accepted the challenge of elimination of corruption, as the PPP has the pride of surmounting difficult tasks to clear the way for future generation.”
 He said the Federal Cabinet had entrusted the Commerce Ministry to work on provision of MFN (Most Favoured Nation) status to India.
“This step should not be misconceived as backtracking, as it will not affect the Kashmir cause or any other dispute with India,” he said, adding that China was doing trade with India but at the same time it was a fast friend of Pakistan.
 The MFN status means Pakistan will be treating India as it treats other countries in maintaining trade relations, he elaborated.
 On trade with India, he said the PPP-led government would take up all issues, including the core dispute of Kashmir, with its neighbour on the dialogue table.
 He said, “We will not harm the Kashmir cause, as my family  played a prominent role in the Pakistan Movement and my father was one of signatories to the Pakistan Resolution.”
 The Prime Minister said Paksat-1R could ensure revolutionary changes in Pakistan’s socio-economic programme.
 “We are ensuring maximum involvement of the youth and students so that optimum benefits can be reaped in the fields of telehealth and telemedicine,” he added.
 The Prime Minister directed the Ministry of Information Technology, and Ministry of Science and Technology in collaboration with SUPARCO (Pakistan Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission) to make coordinated efforts to pass on real benefits of space technology to people.