WAZIRABAD: Minister for Information and Broadcasting Qamar Zaman Kaira has said the Council of Common Interests (CCI) will decide disputed issues like the Kalabagh Dam.

Speaking to media representatives at an annual funfair of the Muslim Hands Educational Complex on Saturday, Kaira said that the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) respects the judiciary as democracy, without an independent judiciary, is incomplete.

He said the CCI was formed to decide the disputed matters among the provinces and it had been strengthened under the 18th amendment. If the CCI fails to decide any issue, then it will be discussed in the parliament, he added.

The information minister said when the PPP came to power, the country was facing multiple problems, and many of them have now been resolved.

Commenting on security of journalist fraternity, he said the government had asked all the journalist organisations, including the Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists, to suggest ways to improve security of the community.

Security-related incidents with journalists should be properly addressed, said the minister, adding that senior journalist Hamid Mir himself has refused security.

Commenting on electoral alliance for the upcoming general elections in the country, the minister said that the Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) are natural ally of his party.

Criticising Opposition Leader in the National Assembly Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan and Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif, he said the PML-N chief Nawaz Sharif has now advised his party leaders not to use foul language against President Asif Ali Zardari.