He also assured that any court ruling about $60 million, lying in the Swiss banks, would also be accepted and implemented. Talking to reporters after the 9th Convocation of the Lahore College for Women University (LCWU) on the university premises, Gilani promised that the government would respect all court decisions. “My appearance in the Supreme Court shows that we respect the court and that the government believes in strengthening the institutions,” the premier said.
Replying to a question, the PM said: “We have a mandate for five years, and I am the first prime minister in the history of Pakistan who has served the country for the longest period without any support from the army.” He said all his actions were in accordance with the Constitution and for the rule of law. However, he termed the opposition’s demand for early elections illogical.
The premier said parliament, and not any other country, would decide the fate of supply route for the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (Nato) forces, stationed in Afghanistan. He said the supply routes were closed, Shamsi Airbase in Balochistan was got vacated from the US forces and Bonn conference was boycotted by Pakistan after the US-led forces launched an attack on a Pakistani check-post on Nov 28, 2011.
“We did it because we are not answerable to any other country,” Gilani said, adding that Pervez Musharraf had succumbed to foreign pressure and accepted the US demands on a single phone call. He said the issue had been referred to the Parliamentary Committee on National Security. After getting its recommendations, a joint session of parliament would be convened for a final decision. “The government will be bound to follow the decision,” he added.
Gilani said there would be no institutional clash if all state organs perform their duties within their ambit. The PM said a dictator came into power claiming that he would end corruption and poverty, but he failed to do so even after remaining in power for a decade. He claims that the nation was missing him and that he will come back. “But we want to tell the nation that there is no chance of his coming back,” he added.
Gilani said the government challenges the opposition for any upcoming election and would compete with it with full confidence. He said it was the job of the opposition to criticise the government and the people should let them fulfil their duty. Rejecting allegations of the opposition partiesÇ he said the nation knew what the opposition parties had done during their terms in office.
The PM said he would not make tall claims that all problems of the people had been solved. However, he assured that the government would overcome the energy crisis and end electricity and gas loadshedding within six months by resolving the issue of circular debt. He said over 3,300 megawatt electricity had been added to national grid.
Gilani said the government had presented the national economic policy in the National Assembly, and it would be approved after the opposition parties extended their suggestions in this regard.
Earlier, the prime minister addressed the convocation. Referring to his appearance in the Supreme Court on Thursday, the prime minister said in a lighter vein: “Yesterday, I was among the black coats, and today among the black robes (a reference to gowns of the graduating students).”
Agencies add: The prime minister said if the institutions worked within their ambit as defined by the Constitution, then there would be no rift.
Regarding the opposition’s call for an early election in the country, Gilani said the opposition wanted to humiliate the government but it was an elected government’s duty to show magnanimity towards them.
PM Gilani said he had given a policy statement about the economy on the floor of the National Assembly and the government was waiting for proposals from the opposition in this regard. “My government takes pride in the fact that the National Assembly passed a unanimous Bill on National Commission on the Status of Women yesterday,” he added.
Lauding the role of LCWU, the premier called upon the management to produce future leaders and professionals, who could face upcoming challenges. He directed the Federal Ministry of Information Technology to set up an IT campus at the LCWU and asked the university management to prepare PC-I for restructuring and refurbishing of a library in the next ADP.
About the role of the media in today’s Pakistan, the prime minister said he sees it responsible rather than hostile. Prof Dr Bushra Mateen, former vice-chancellor of LCWU, was awarded the title of Professor Emeritus by PM Gilani.
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