News
Monday, March 24, 2008
Unity needed to pull country out of this complex situation, says Gillani
* Would-be premier says he will remain prime minister as long as his party wishes
* Believes defence budget should be discussed in parliamentBy Zulfiqar Ghuman
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan People’s Party (PPP)’s premiership candidate Yousaf Raza Gillani has vowed to help the country out of its present crises in co-operation with the PPP-led coalition partners. Addressing a press conference on Sunday after submitting his nomination papers for the premiership, Gillani said, “No individual or political party can lead the country out of this complex situation unless we work in unity.” He said that his party had nominated him for the office of prime minister, and that he would serve as long as the party wanted him to continue in that position. He said that he would follow the party’s discipline. Gillani will face Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi – nominee of the opposition coalition led by formerly ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) –in the premiership election today. The two contestants submitted their nomination papers with the National Assembly Secretariat on Sunday. Gillani said the PPP leadership would decide the party’s parliamentary leader in the National Assembly. “I have nothing to do with it.” Defence budget: He said that he would release his policy statement in the NA after his election, adding that in his personal opinion, the defence budget should be discussed in parliament. Gillani said that he would work in co-operation with the coalition parties for the supremacy of parliament, restoration of the 1973 Constitution and judiciary, and independence of media. “We will follow the Charter of Democracy as envisaged by our late leader [Benazir Bhutto],” he said, hinting that all policy decisions would be made in parliament, including the likelihood of bringing the defence budget under its supervision. “I will work for the empowerment of parliamentary committees and the Public Accounts Committee,” he added. He said that under Article 91 of the Constitution, the prime minister and the cabinet were accountable to the National Assembly and the Senate. He also held a meeting with Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) parliamentarians and thanked them for their “unconditional support” to the PPP. Gillani’s rival, Pervaiz Elahi, said that he had agreed to file his candidature despite knowing that he did not have majority votes. “We will play the role of opposition positively, and the people will see the difference,” Elahi added.
Courtesy Daily Times