KARACHI: Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani Sunday said the elected government has been following the principles of Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah and is taking all decisions through consultation with the elected representatives.
Addressing the 100th meeting of the federal cabinet held here in connection with the birth anniversary of the father of the nation Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah, Gilani said the parliament will complete its five years term. He said that this will strengthen the democratic institutions.
“It's an honour for the present government that it has completed its 45 months and it will complete the five year term given to it by the people of Pakistan,” he said.
He said it is the first federal cabinet of the democratic government that had held 100 meetings in 45 months and today it had completed the century.
Gilani said it is the best way to pay homage to father of the nation Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah that the democratic government has completed 45 months.
He said the government took all the decisions with consultation in the parliament.
The prime minister said the democratic government ensured the freedom of press and independence of judiciary. He said there is no political prisoner in the country today.
He said the government has due reverence for the independence of judiciary and gave respect to its decisions by accepting them with an open heart.
Gilani said, “It is the credit of this democratic government that it took the decision to constitute National Finance Commission, passed 18th constitutional amendment and restored the 1973 constitution in its original form unanimously through the parliament.”
He said following the principles of Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah the government took decisions to strengthen the democratic institutions and took the decisions on all important issues through mutual consultation.
The prime minister said the government organized All Parties Conference twice to have consultation on national issues and even invited those politicians having no representation in the parliament.
He said President Asif Ali Zardari, who surrendered his powers to the parliament also addressed the joint session of the parliament three times. This is another record in the parliamentary history as none of his predecessors had fulfilled this constitutional requirement.
Referring to the foreign policy, Gilani said in line with the principles of the Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah, the democratic government adopted the policy to have relations with all the countries including its neighbours with honour and dignity.
On the Kashmir issue, the prime minister said, “The government has very clear policy on Kashmir issue and wants to resolve it in accordance with the aspirations of the people of Kashmir.”
Appreciating the contribution of Pakistan Army in defending the country, the prime minister said the Armed Forces have given sacrifices to defend its frontiers.
Gilani vowed that sovereignty, integrity and solidarity of the country would be protected at all cost and assuring to give any sacrifice for this lofty purpose.
Quoting the address of Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah to Bar Association Karachi on January 25, 1948, the PM said, “Islam and its idealism have taught democracy. Islam has taught equality, justice and fair play to everybody. What reason is there for any one to fear democracy, equality, freedom on the highest standard of integrity and on the basis of fair play and justice for everybody?”
Gilani also constituted a Task Force under the Finance Minister to resolve the problems of the national institutions including PIA, Pepco, Steel Mills and Pakistan Railway.
He announced that 2012 will be year of Balochistan and assured that the people of Balochistan will get their fundamental rights.
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