SUKKUR: Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Qamar Zaman Kaira has said that only Parliament and political forces have powers to take political and administrative decisions in the country.
Addressing a press conference on Wednesday, the federal minister said we always welcomed the parties that want to do politics according to the Constitution. We will not support those, who want to impose their own agenda through force, he added.
He said President Asif Ali Zardari strengthened democracy by transferring all his powers to the prime minister and the parliament.
Kaira said during the last four and a half years, the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP)-led government had faced many internal and external challenges, including terrorism, law and order in Swat and Malakand, energy crisis, threat of being isolated internationally, economic recession, food crisis and floods.
About his government's achievements, the information minister said that his party had brought all the political forces of the country at one platform and freed Swat and Malakand from the clutches of terrorists.
He said the government brought Pakistan out of international isolation. “The government managed to get assistance form the Friends of Democratic Pakistan Forum through coordinated efforts.”
Qamar Zaman Kaira said when the PPP took over in 2008, terrorism was prevailing in different parts of the country.
An equitable system of resources distribution has been devised, under which the provinces have got an additional amount of Rs 1,000 billion, he added.
Kaira said the Pakistan People’s Party believed in the politics of ideology and not of caste and creed.
About Tehrik Minjhaj-ul-Quran chief Dr Tahirul Qadri, he said the government would respect his viewpoint in accordance with the Constitution.
“Allama Tahirul Qadri should seek people's support through popular public vote as no one can be allowed to oppose the Constitution,” he added.
He said during Pervez Musharraf's regime, Tahirul Qadri left the country due to some reasons, but it was the democratic government that allowed him to come back, adding that politics of ultimatums should end now.
He said consultations with political forces were underway and the coalition partners do have their own manifestos and difference of opinion on various issues.
About Asghar Khan case verdict, he made it clear that the court had not awarded punishment to any one and had formed a commission to investigate involvement of the politicians.
Kaira said after coming into power, the PPP government empowered the provinces by implementing the 7th National Finance Commission (NFC) Award, adding that federating units have been made more independent.
The minister strongly refuted the impression given by some elements that industrial sector in Punjab was being destroyed and made it clear that due to shortage of gas, cuts were being imposed in all parts of the country.
Replying to a question, Kaira said there were no obstacles in holding of general elections on time. The caretaker government will be set up till March 16 after dissolution of the assemblies and in this regard consultations will be started soon, he added.
To a question, he said the PPP respects the judiciary and has implemented its decisions despite its reservations on some verdicts including disqualification of former prime minister Yousuf Raza Gilani.
