LAHORE, Nov 8 (APP): Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani has said the issue of the 17th amendment will be resolved under the Charter of Democracy. He was talking to media at the residence of PPP Central Executive Committee member Aslam Gill on Sunday. He visited Gill’s residence to offer condolences on the death of his mother.
The prime minister said the government had decided to table the NRO in
parliament under the order of the Supreme Court of Pakistan. “However,
it was withdrawn after accepting the opinion of political parties. This
is not a matter of winning or losing but part of the reconciliatory
politics of the government in larger national interest,” he added.
Gilani reassured the nation that there would be no compromise on
national interest, security and the nuclear programme of the
country.
He said PPP had made more sacrifices than any political party for the
restoration of judiciary in the country and it was Shaheed Benazir
Bhuttoo who had launched a movement for it.
Gilani said after becoming prime minister, his first orders were for the release of judges.
On the Kerry-Lugar Bill, he said it was legislation made in the United
States, not in Pakistan. “The maximum we can do about the bill is that
we can refuse to accept aid under it,” he added.
Responding to a query, he said Pakistan had to get assistance from the
IMF because the country was in a state of war and it needed assistance
to resolve its economic issues.
To another query, he said the MQM had proposed setting up a two-member
committee of constitutional experts on the NRO, which the government
accepted.
He said the government was bringing a constitutional package on
Balochistan to address issues faced by people of the province during
the last 62 years.
He said under political reconciliation the government would take all
political parties into confidence on the package. The prime minister
said he had invited Mian Nawaz Sharif to discuss the Balochistan issue.
“Nawaz Sharif has not talked about working against democracy or the
President of Pakistan,” he added.
The prime minister also visited the house of PML-N leader Tehmina Daultana to offer condolences on the death of her husband.
Before leaving for Islamabad, the prime minister also visited the
residence of Evacuee Property Trust Board Chairman Asif Hashmi to
congratulate him on the marriage of his son.
