Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani attends the Annual Awards Ceremony 2007-08 of National Highways & Motorway Police at PM Secretariat. - APP photo

ISLAMABAD Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani said on Thursday that he was optimistic that differences of opinion between the PPP and the PML-N over the trial of former president Pervez Musharraf under Article 6 of the Constitution would be resolved through talks.

Talking to reporters after chairing the 12th award ceremony of the National Highway police at the Prime Minister's Secretariat, Mr Gilani said the Pakistan People's Party and the Pakistan Muslim League-N had differences over the mode of trial and how to initiate it.

He said the two parties were in unison on the implementation of the Charter of Democracy.

While PML-N chief Nawaz Sharif has said that there is no need for a unanimous resolution in parliament for Musharraf's trial, the prime minister insisted that it was necessary to strengthen the process of accountability and termed the PML-N's demand 'undoable'.

He reiterated his government's resolve to continue the process of accountability through the Public Accounts Committee till the setting up of a new and effective accountability body to replace the infamous National Accountability Bureau.

In reply to a question about the approval of 14 rental power plants despite the opposition's scathing criticism questioning the project's transparency and fairness, the prime minister said that rental plants were the only way out of the energy crisis and the International Monetary Fund as a third party would review the contracts.

He said the government had taken every care to ensure transparency in the project and if anyone had any doubt about its fairness he was free to come forward.

He said he had already volunteered the Prime Minister's House for starting accountability of the government.

He called for accountability of present rulers and not past rulers and said 'If the prime minister cannot escape the audit how can anyone else.'

About the Punjab government, he said it was sincere and there should be no doubt about its intention.

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