Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani. — Photo by AFP

BAHAWALPUR: Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani on Monday said that another province could be created in Punjab if that was what the public wanted, DawnNews reported.

Speaking to media representatives in Bahawalpur,  Gilani said making Bahawalpur a province was a constitutional issue and that one or even two provinces could be created in Punjab if that was what the people wanted.

The prime minister said he would not comment on Zulfiqar Mirza's statement of Sunday. He, however, said that Pakistan People's Party's reconciliation policy would continue.

He further said the government would handle the Raymond Davis case keeping in view Pakistan’s interests.

“We have to put our country first. [We] will do whatever will be in Pakistan's best interest,” Prime Minister Gilani told media representatives in response to questions regarding the US national who had killed two Pakistanis in Lahore.

Gilani rejected Opposition's claims that fake documents had been prepared for Davis. “We don't need to prepare fake documents,” he added.

When asked about Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz's 10-point agenda, the PM said the committees of PPP and PML-N would have a detailed exchange of views on the implementation of agenda items. He said the committees would take the nation into confidence.

The premier said the government has implemented six out of ten recommendations put forth by the PML-N.

He said the government was following reconciliatory politics and believed that a single party could not take the nation out of crises without the support of all political parties.

About the status of former foreign minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi in the PPP, Gilani said: He [Qureshi] is in the party, will be in it and will not do anything against the party.

He said after meeting with PPP Co-Chairperson Asif Ali Zardari, Qureshi would “tow the party line”.

Gilani said he himself was holding the portfolio of foreign minister until the naming of a new minister.

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