Monday, May 12, 2008, Jamadi-ul-Awwal 5, 1429    

Problems to be solved with consensus: Shah Mehmood

Khanewal—Foreign minister Makhdoom Shah Mehmood Qureshi said on Sunday that on-going efforts of the government were directed at solving all the problems confronting the nation with consensus of the coalition partners while keeping in view the national interests.
While addressing a lunch ceremony hosted in his honour by a PPP leader Musaddiq Jafri here Sunday, Shah Mehmood Qureshi said that in addition to the judges issues, country was also facing the problems like price hike, power crisis and worsening economic situation and added that efforts were being made in consultation with the coalition partners to finalize some solution that serves the best interests of the country and its people.
He said that he did not want to comment on the judges issue adding: “London parleys on the matter have entered a sensitive stage.”
The Foreign Minister lauded lawyers for their struggle and added that he believes that the independent judiciary will be beneficial to all. He said that the coalition government inherited a number of problems but added that the party has a very clear view on all the issues including judges matter, price hike, unemployment and energy crisis.
Shah Mehmood Qureshi said that the corrupt elements who plundered the national wealth at district, tehsil and UC level under the district government system during the regime of previous government will be held accountable. He said that audit teams from the office of Auditor General of Pakistan will soon reach UC level offices to audit the accounts and added that each Paisa of the plundered national wealth will be recovered.
Shah Mehmood Qureshi said that it has been decided by the party Co-Chairman Asif Ali Zardari, and PML-N leaders Mian Nawaz Sharif and Mian Shehbaz Sharif that no corrupt element and those who deserted their parties will be allowed to re-enter the ranks of their respective parties. He lauded party workers for their services and sacrifices for the cause of democracy and added that the party hold workers in high esteem and will never forget their services.
Later, during a brief talk with the newsmen, Shah Mehmood Qureshi said that the present government has an independent foreign policy and does not take dictation from others. To another question, he said that the kidnapped Pakistani ambassador in Afghanistan, Azizuddin Tariq, will soon be released adding that result-oriented efforts were being made in this connection.—APP