No threat to democracy, says Zardari
07 January, 2012
ISLAMABAD: President Asif Ali Zardari on Friday said that he saw no threat to democracy but no matter what happened the Pakistan People's Party (PPP) would not disappoint the nation. Chairing a meeting of PPP parliamentarians at Presidency, he said that the people would find his team fully prepared to face any eventuality with courage and determination. Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani was also present on the occasion. Briefing about the meeting, Spokesperson to the President Farhatullah Babar said that the meeting renewed the party's commitment to strengthen democracy and the democratic institutions and to continue to resist any attempt that sought to undermine democracy and civil institutions. The president said that they were aware of their obligation to fulfil their commitments with the people who have never been heard and would take all measures that promise to fulfil the aspirations of the people of country. He said that the party had initiated a consultative process with its political partners and allies on matters of creation of new provinces as well as Senate elections, adding that appropriate legislative measures would soon be undertaken for creation of Saraiki province in consultation with coalition partners. The president had already held a consultative meeting with parliamentary leaders of allies parties, Babar said. He said that the government had decided to hold by-elections to all the vacant seats at the earliest completing the constitutional requirements in this regard. The prime minister while addressing the participants said that their decision to support a private-member bill, which makes it binding upon all the public servants to declare their assets as the parliamentarians do, was a major step to ensure across the board accountability of all. However, efforts made in this regard in the past were foiled on tenuous ground, he said. He said that declaration and publication of assets of all those drawing salary from public exchequer was a historical step that would be pursued to its logical conclusion and any attempt to subvert it would be exposed and resisted. The prime minister said that the government had also lifted ban on the government jobs. The president said that the leadership was aware of the challenges facing the country and that was why it had decided to hold dialogue with all the political parties and leaders for strengthening democracy in the country and to take the country out of the present challenges. Discussing power and energy crisis, the president said that power and energy challenges were amongst the greatest challenges that continued to haunt the people of the country and the government was taking all possible measures to address these issues. The prime minister recounted various decisions taken during the recent cabinet meeting to address power and energy crisis. He said that funds for Thar Coal project had been released and expressed the hope that the government would overcome the power crises. The president called upon all the parliamentarians to reach out to the people and hold rallies and public gatherings at divisional levels. Later, the parliamentarians of the party spoke on various political issues facing the country. Farzana Raja also gave a run down of the progress made by Benazir Income Support Programme. End.
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