HYDERABAD, Nov 21 (APP): Federal Minister for Labour and Manpower Syed Khursheed Ahmed Shah has said that all governments of Pakistan Peoples Party have taken their own decisions in the larger interests of the country instead of taking dictation and that was why dictators influenced establishment always created hurdles for PPP governments.The establishment worked under the shed of dictators for 40 years and it is difficult for it to accept the voice of masses and peoples welfare decisions from democratic governments, the minister said this while addressing “Meet the Press” programme of Hyderabad Press Club here on Friday evening.

Accompanied by Senator Moula Bux Chandio, Syed Khursheed Ahmed Shah said that PPP have deep roots among the masses in every part of the country and despite short period, the present government under the leadership of the President Asif Ali Zardari has taken various decisions which related with the peoples’ welfare.

He said that Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto had restored democracy in the country by rendering her blood and the present government is striving hard to strengthen democracy at grass root level so that the fruits of democracy could reach at the doorsteps of the masses.

The media trial and demand of resignation from President Zardari being carried out on the behest of undemocratic forces could not gain any success as the President was elected with historic votes from the Parliament, the minister said and termed such acts as one of the threats from establishment through a group of media as it does not want democracy to flourish in the country.

Only the people of Pakistan and the Parliament have the authority to demand resignation from the President, but all democratic forces are supporting to him, Syed Khursheed Ahmed Shah said and replied to a questioner that whatever the people are demonstrating against former President, it is because of his undemocratic behaviour against President Zardari.

Reminding the act of the President Asif Ali Zardari for sending Bill of Nizam-e-Adle in Swat, the minister said that he is the first President of the history who avoided to use his powers and referred the Bill to the Parliament for approval.

While following the vision of Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto, the minister said that President Zardari introduced the politics of understanding and reconciliation and formed a larger Parliamentary Committee with representation of all political parties having representation in the Parliament for Constitutional amendments.

Similarly, Syed Khursheed Ahmed Shah said that because of the efforts of the President around six to seven clauses of Charter of Democracy have been implemented while efforts are being made for early implementation of remaining clauses of the Charter.

All Clauses of the CoD which could be implemented through executive orders have been applied while those clauses which could be executed through simple or two third majority of the Parliament are under consideration and will be enforced soon after approval.

Responding to a question about the withdrawal of 58 (2b), Syed Khursheed Shah said that President Asif Ali Zardari has already made announcement about its withdrawal and the same is under consideration of the Parliamentary Committee on Constitutional Amendments.

He said that President has asked the Parliamentary Committee to finalize its package up to December 31, and added that the committee is actively working on it with the efforts to remove the trust deficit of the small provinces.

The parliamentarians of small provinces were not taken into confidence on 16^th Amendment therefore the committee is taking time to remove their reservations, he added.

About the issue of Balochistan, the minister said that President Zardari had already tendered apologies with the people of Balochistan whatever they experienced in the past and now on the directives of the President, all political parties of the country were taken into confidence with start of Balochistan Package.

About Kerry-Lugar Bill, the minister said that when the Parliament has expressed its reservation on controversial clauses, the President and the Prime Minister asked the Foreign Ministry to convey these reservations to US Government. It is the right of Pakistan to accept the Bill or not, the minister said and added that however, the US Government should realize the fact that Pakistan always played front role in war against terrorism.

Responding to another question, the minister said that the present government has due respect for the judiciary as PPP is the only political party of the country, which sacrificed a lot even over 60 party workers were martyred for the cause of the restoration of judiciary.

Reminding the efforts of present government in a short period, the minister said terrorism emerged as major challenge for the government and the country was being defamed because of the exploitation of Anti-Pakistan forces, therefore, the government started operation against terrorism in successful manner after taking all political parties into confidence.

He said that the government has amicably tackled the resettlement of 2.5 million Internally Displaced Persons of Swat and Malakand who migrated soon after the start of operation against terrorism. The resettlement of IDPs was a big challenge for the government, which was successfully handled.

The minister said that the revival of Council of Common Interest was another major success of the present government, while soon the fruits of National Finance Commission Award will be reached to the people.

Similarly, Syed Khursheed Ahmed Shah said that the present government has initiated another bold step of scraping the 57 years long issue of Kala Bagh Dam and also addressed the issue of Thar Coal by giving its authority to Sindh government.

Sindh is the safeguard of Pakistan, which become the base of creation of Pakistan, the minister said and added that the founder of Pakistan Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah and founder of new Pakistan Shaheed Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto belonged to this province and the government would never compromise on its rights.

On demand of the development grant for Hyderabad Press Club, Syed Khursheed Shah requested to Senator Moula Bux Chandio to make announcement for the development of the club and Senator Moula Bux Chandio announced the development grant of Rs. 2.5 million from his development quota and asked the office bearers of the club to submit development scheme of the club so that the grant could be utilized for the purpose.

The Minister also assured that he will request to Prime Minister Gilani to announce rupees one million grant for Hyderabad Press Club and also visit the club.

Later, Syed Khursheed Ahmed Shah along with Senator Moula Bux Chandio and other PPP leaders, led a big rally in favour of President Asif Ali Zardari.