Gilani says elections after two years, calls for political reconciliation
ISLAMABAD, Feb 24 (APP) Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani on Thursday ruled out possibility of mid term polls and said the government will seek a new public mandate after two years.In interviews to various television channels Apna TV (Punjabi), Khyber TV (Pashto), Sindh TV and Wish TV (Balochi), he said those who are shouting for mid term polls, boycotted the elections in 2008.Gilani said polls will be held on time as the country at present in not in a condition to prepare for elections.If the provinces cannot hold local bodies election how they can hold voting for National Assembly, he wondered.
He underlined the need for politics of reconciliation, harmony and tolerance and said politics of confrontation should be shunned.
The political parties need to show political wisdom and sagacity, he remarked.
Commenting on the reports of deadline of PML-N, he said in politics there are no ultimatums and the government accepted the offer of dialogue of PML-N with sincerity.
More time is needed for implementing the 10-point agenda presented by Pakistan Muslim League (N) and the government is in contact with the party, he added.
He said economic challenges will be faced with the cooperation of all the political parties.
The Prime Minister said the national agenda is not of two parties but Awami National Party (ANP) and other allies have also demanded that all political forces should be taken into confidence on the package.
He informed that the economic team of the government had held consultations on the national agenda for 200 hours. “We will continue to work on economic reforms and it is a continuous process,” he added.
To a question, he said he did not support making of forward blocs and the politics of the decade of 80s and 90s should be avoided. On various occasions in the past, the government refused to make moves for creating forward blocs in the National Assembly as instead it was better to sit in the opposition, he recalled.
The Prime Minister shed light on the issues and challenges facing the country and on steps being taken by the government to resolve them.
Discussing the situation in Balochistan, he said all alienated Balochs have been invited to talks as they live in their own province and country and they should come back and play their role at the national level.
The Prime Minister pointed out that India was interfering in Balochistan and he had also raised this issue with India’s Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.
He said Aghaz-e-Haqooq-e-Balochistan is merely a beginning and more steps are being taken as use of resources of Balochistan will not only benefit people of the province but of the whole country.
Referring to various initiatives being taken for the progress of Balochistan, he said provinces were given autonomy and resources were given to them under the National Finance Commission (NFC) award.
Gilani said measures are being taken to make Gwadar Port operational as the facility is of great significance to Pakistan.
Cooperation of Gulf countries was also sought in this connection and Gwadar Port is being connected with the rest of the country through Rato Dero, he added.
The Prime Minister Gilani opposing the drone attacks said the incursions are counterproductive and violation of sovereignty of the country. The government will not allow any drone attack in Quetta, he stated.
Prime Minister said issue of Raymond Davis will not affect relations of Pakistan and United States and the matter is in the court which will decide about the immunity.
To a question about a Saraiki province in South Punjab, the Prime Ministsr Gilani said any decision in this regard will be taken according to law and constitution.
About ending target killings in Karachi, he said MQM, PPP and ANP are big parties in Karachi and they are working together on this issue.
The Prime Minister Gilani said army has not been interfering in the country’s politics and the government has good relations with the judiciary.
About return of MQM and JUI-F to government, the Prime Minister was of the view that the parties worked collectively in the past and in future as well they will sit together.
The Prime Minister said the case of martyrdom of Benazir Bhutto Shaheed was on top of the government agenda. The government is focusing on the case which is in a court for hearing, he added.