No clash of institutions, if all work within constitution: PM
BADIN, Feb 7 (APP): Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani said on Monday that Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) would continue to abide by the Constitution and there would be no clash of institutions in the country, if all work within the parameters of Constitution.“The Constitution provides trichotomy of power, with all institutions including the parliament, the executive and the judiciary enjoying their respective powers”, Gilani said while addressing a large public gathering here at the inauguration of 132 KV Golarchi Grid Station project, completed at a cost of Rs. 810 million in record 10-month time.
The ceremony, which was also addressed by Minister for Water and Power Raja Pervaiz Ashraf, Speaker of the National Assembly Dr. Fehmida Mirza and Sindh Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah, was attended among others by federal and provincial ministers and members of parliament.
The Prime Minister said that the PPP-led government by restoring the 1973 Constitution had fulfilled the promise of Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto and would continue to follow her vision and mission for the welfare and well-being of the common man.
He said the 18th and 19th Constitutional Amendments adopted by the present government through consensus would help ensure provincial autonomy and increased resources for the provinces.
The Prime Minister said that the PPP was following the politics of reconciliation and consensus, and it was due to this policy that over 60 bills were approved in the parliament with consensus during the last three years, which was unprecedented in the country’s political history.
He also mentioned the consensus election of the Prime Minister, unanimous vote of confidence for him as well as the consensus election of senators from Punjab, Sindh, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Islamabad as marvelous examples of the politics of reconciliation.
The Prime Minister assured that the PPP, which was a federal party having roots in all parts of the country and chapters in various countries of the world, would continue to take all political forces along and on board on major national issues.
Gilani said it was due to the successful agricultural policy of the present PPP-led government that the country, which was facing the shortage of wheat and flour three years back, had now surplus wheat, which was being exported.
He said that the growers were getting international prices for their produce, adding, as Pakistan had an agrarian economy with 65-70 per cent population depending on agriculture, it was important to ensure the progress and prosperity of farmers community.
Prime Minister Gilani said that the PPP was vigorously working to improve the lot of poor and deprived segments of the society and the attendance of such a large number of people in the grid station inauguration ceremony was a demonstration of public confidence in its policies.
Terming Badin a mini Larkana and a stronghold of PPP, Gilani recalled that this district was one of the four constituencies from where Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto contested and won the National Assembly elections.
“Badin is a home to Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto and they always loved the people of this area”, he said and recalled that Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto during the historic rally in Karachi in 2007 on her arrival in Pakistan, gave her Ajrak to Dr. Fehmida Mirza to take her position in the truck on which she was standing, before going down for some rest.
“I was also with the Shaheed leader. At that time we did not know that I would become the Prime Minister and Dr. Fehmida Mirza would be the Speaker”, he remarked.
The Prime Minister said that the PPP leaders owed to the promises made by Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto and “we will fulfil her promises and take her vision and mission forward.”
Gilani recalled that Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto had strongly voiced his support for the settlers of Badin and assured that the PPP would always be with the settlers, minorities and women to protect their rights.
He further said that District Badin, which had abundant mineral resources and was neglected in the past, was being given its due rights and it was owing to the 18th Amendment that a sum of over Rs. 200 million on account of production bonus for Badin had been paid to Sindh and the remaining Rs. 30 million would also be given soon.
The Prime Minister said that the right of Sindh on Thar Coal reserves - one of the largest coal reserves in the world - had also been accepted and this project would change the fate of people in the area.
Gilani on this occasion also announced a grid station for Tando Bago as well as drainage and fresh water supply schemes for Badin and Golarchi.