ISLAMABAD, April 14: Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani said on Monday the government would take measures to redress the balance between the powers of the president and the parliament.

“We will create a balance between the powers of the president and the parliament to ensure proper working of democratic institutions,” the prime minister told a 45-member delegation of the All Pakistan Newspapers Society (APNS), which called on him at the Prime Minister’s House.

The delegation was led by APNS president Hameed Haroon.

Mr Gilani said the government would spare no effort to ensure independence of the judiciary, the Election Commission and media.

Referring to the energy crisis, he said the government had “inherited” it along with a shortage of flour.

He said the previous government did not determine the support price of wheat even six months after harvest in September.

He termed it a “criminal negligence”, causing the flour crisis.

Mr Gilani said the cabinet was seized of the matter while the security forces were taking steps to check smuggling of flour across the border.

“We are passing through many crises. But I have got a very strong team, and in future, we will take up the issue on war footing,” he said.

Referring to the violent protest in Multan against power cuts, the prime minister said people should show patience and refrain from violence since it would help no one.

Mr Gilani said he had already directed the minister for water and power to visit different regions and take immediate measures to help solve people’s problems.

He said the 1973 Constitution was a unanimously accepted document and “we have to uphold it”.

He said the government would fulfil its commitment to abolish the concurrent list in order to ensure provincial autonomy.

The prime minister said the local government system would also be improved. “Local bodies are the grooming ground and develop party discipline in the long-term.”

He said he had asked all ministers to discuss people’s grievances with ministries as well as attached organisations and then put up proposals at cabinet meetings.

The president of APNS, Hameed Haroon, congratulated the prime minister on assumption of office, saying that challenges confronting the government would require good governance.

The freedom of media and the freedom of expression, he said, would also require a democratic approach.

He said the print media had four major problems.

First, the advertisement policy needs improvement so as to guarantee an “equitable distribution” among genuine publications. He also called for revision in the rates of government advertisements.

Second, Mr Hameed Haroon said, relief should be given on multiple taxes in view of the rising prices of newsprint.

Third, the issue of Wage Board award be solved on rational grounds, Mr Haroon said.

Fourth, all such laws be repealed as found to be hampering the freedom of expression and a free flow of information.

The prime minister assured the APNS executive body that all issues confronting the media would be resolved in consultation with the stakeholders.He offered his support to the information minister and APNS in this regard.

Arif Nizami, chief of CPNE, said it was incumbent upon media to develop “self-responsibility”.

The other APNS members who spoke on the occasion were Altaf Hussain Qureshi, Arshad Zubairi, Mujeeb-ur-Rehman Shami, Qazi Asad Abid, Imtinam Shahid, Jamil Ather, Ilyas Shakir, Sharif Farooq, Mumtaz Tahir, Amir, Javed Mahr Shamsi, Dr. Jabbar Khattak, M. A. Niazi, Siddique Baloch and Peer Safaid Shah.

SHERRY REHMAN: The information minister said the government would do all it can to ensure public access to information and work with stakeholders to dismantle curbs on freedom of information.

“Inspired by the vision of Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto, we would remove all draconian media laws introduced by the previous regime and would facilitate the flow of information through an independent and free media,” she said while talking to the APNS delegation.

The delegation appreciated the media-friendly measures taken by the new government and assured the minister of their support for the establishment of a “free, fair and responsible” media.

Referring to the implementation of the Seventh Wage Award, the delegation linked its implementation with the exclusion of non-journalists.

The minister assured the delegation that she would look into the issues raised by them.

She said the new government would formulate media-friendly policies as announced by the Prime Minister in his first speech in the National Assembly.

The delegation included Senior Vice President Jamil Ather, Vice President Imtinan Shahid, Airf Nizami, Mujeeb-ur-Rehman Shami, Syed Fasih Iqbal and Dr. Tanvir A. Tahir, Executive Director.—APP