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Wednesday, November 4, 2009, Zhul-Q'ada 15, 1430

NRO not to appear in House: PM

Sharafat Kazmi

Islamabad—Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani has said the government has adopted a policy of political reconciliation therefore keeping in view the sense of the House, it has been decided not to table NRO in the National Assembly.

Speaking in the National Assembly Tuesday, while condemning 3rd November 2007 action, he said government did not make the NRO a point of ego but gave respect to the views of the majority of the House in this regard. He expressed gratitude to the coalition partners for their guidance on the issue of NRO.

Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani expressed determination to implement Charter of Democracy and all other promises made to strengthen democracy at all costs with an objective to ensure a sustainable democratic system.

He said the PPP never accepted emergency and PCO imposed by a dictator and rendered matchless sacrifices alongwith other parties to restore democracy. He said Shaheed Benazir Bhutto and a large number of political workers laid their lives for this purpose and he himself led a long march in Lahore to protect the rights of the people, media and judiciary. He said in result of this struggle, the country led to the democracy but it will remain fragile until we get unite to strengthen State institutions that is vital for a strong democratic system.

The Prime Minister said the Chairman of the Parliamentary Committee on Constitutional Reforms has been directed to expedite work on finalizing its recommendations to revive 1973 constitution in its true spirit besides removing 17th amendment alongwith Article 58(2-B). He said the government is committed to bring a balance between the powers of the President and the Prime Minister.

Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani assured the House that a special cabinet meeting will be convened shortly to discuss the problems being faced by the people and devise a workable strategy to overcome them. He said special meetings have also been convened to resolve the issue of the paddy price, gas load shedding and other problems of the people. He said the government will launch an austerity campaign to divert national resources towards socio-economic development.

The Prime Minister said that focus of the government would be on real issues and sought the cooperation from the parliament to move forward.

He declared the 3rd November 2007 as the day for democracy.

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