Chief Executive responsible for whatever happens in country: PM
LAHORE, Dec 3 (APP): Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani said on Saturday that being the chief executive of the country, he was responsible for whatever happens in the country instead of the president. Addressing a meeting of PPP parliamentarians in the Punjab Assembly at the Governor’s House here, he said that sovereignty and territorial integrity of Pakistan would be protected at all cost. The Prime Minister took the parliamentarians into confidence over the government’s stance on Mohmand Agency incident. Gilani said foundation of Pakistan’s nuclear programme was laid down by PPP founder Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and the incumbent  democratic government would ensure its security.
He said credit for country’s missile technology,which had made defence invincible,went to Shaheed Benazir Bhutto.
 The Prime Minister said the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) was a federal party with its roots embedded in all over the country, adding the elections held in Azad Kashmir and Gilgilt Baltistan and  by-polls in various constituencies of the country manifested its popularity
 He said the PPP had come into power with people’s mandate and did not believe in negative tactics. “We reject coming into power through caretaker and chairtaker,” he added.
 Gilani said history of the PPP was replete  with sacrifices rendered by its leaders including its founding father for preserving the rights of the people and down trodden. “The PPP is the name of ideology, struggle  and manifesto,” he said.
 About the PPP’s struggle for the restoration of judiciary, release of judges and against restrictions on media, he said Shaheed  Benazir Bhutto had directed him to take charge of campaign after her arrest by a dictator Pervaiz Musharraf from the residence of Punjab Governor Latif Khan Khosa.
 The Prime Minister said that the National Reconciliation Ordinance (NRO) and plea-bargain were one and the same thing and many politicians availed of the relief under plea-bargain and joined Pervaiz Musharraf regime.
 About memogate issue, Prime Minister Gilani said  he had not only immediately summoned former Ambassador to the USA Hussain Haqqani and sought his resignation but also  referred the matter to a committee on national security.He has also appointed Sherry Rehman as Pakistan new Ambassador to USA. “The allegations  levelled by the opposition are baseless and groundless,” Gilani asserted.
 Regarding NATO air strike, he said, he convened a meeting of Defence Cabinet Committee(DCC) on same day and its decision was endorsed by the cabinet subsequently and then the matter was referred to the parliamentary committee on national security without any delay.
The Prime Minister said deprivations of people of south Punjab would be addressed by carving out Seraiki province.
 He said the government’s policy on the economic front was bearing fruits and Pakistan had become wheat exporting country.
 The Prime Minister directed ministers of Water and Power, Petroleum, Interior, Chairman Pakistan Bait-ul-Maal(PBM) and Chairperson Benzir Income Support Fund(BISP) to make themselves available every month in Lahore and to solve problems faced by the lawmakers.
 Earlier, Governor Punjab Sardar Latif Khan Khosa, PPP Secretary General Jehangir Badar, PPP Punjab (Central) President Imtiaz Safdar Warriach, PPP President (South Punjab ) Makhdoom Shahabuddin, Opposition leader in the Punjab Assembly Raja Riaz, PPP parliamentary party leader in the Punjab Assembly Zulfiqar Gondal addressed the meeting.
 Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar, Interior Minister Rehman Malik, Information Minsiter Firdous Ashiq Awan and Minsiter for Kashmir Affairs Manzoor Ahmed Wattoo alos attended the meeting among others.