Fight against terrorism, poverty top priority: PM

ISLAMABAD — Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani yesterday received an unprecedented unanimous vote of confidence and spelled out a 100-day short term road map to begin tackling huge political and economic problems confronting the country.
The prime minister said the fight against terrorism, poverty and unemployment would be on top of his agenda.
“Terrorism and extremism are our greatest problems. They have put the country in danger. Therefore, it is our first priority to bring peace to the country and fight terrorism,” Gilani said.
The government would be willing to talk to militants who laid down their arms, he said.
Gilani announced several steps to restore public confidence in democratic principles and institutions and vowed to establish supremacy of parliament by referring all vital issues for debate and decision-making at that forum. Gilani pledged his government will pursue a policy of promotion of friendly relations with India and resolution of Kashmir issue through dialogue.
Ban on unions goes
The prime minister announced an end to 11-year ban on student and labour unions. The 2001 labour law impinging on the rights of workers and labour unions enshrined in the UN agreements would be repealed. Cases of all political detainees would be reviewed to release them.
Gilani reaffirmed commitment to provincial autonomy and promised to terminate within one year the concurrent list for legislation in which federal government had encroached upon jurisdiction of provinces. He reiterated PPP Co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari's apology to the people of Balochistan for all the excesses meted out to them in the past and promised to end their sense of deprivation and alienation.
FCR abolished
The PM announced abolition of the infamous Frontier Crimes Regulation (FCR) in tribal areas.
Gilani committed his government to full media freedom, promised to repeal all laws and regulations promulgated on November 3 to curb media freedom, introduce a genuine access to information law and removing other impediments in the working of free media.
PM House expenditures cut
He pledged to end the 'VIP’ culture and discourage ostentation and extravagance. The expenditure on Prime Minister's House will be cut by 40 per cent, a measure that will also be followed by all government departments. The ministers will travel in 1600 CC cars and economy class during air travel. Gilani said the National Accountability Bureau would now operate under supervision of the judiciary instead of the executive to ensure that it is not used against political opponents.
ANP chief Asfandyar Wali Khan moved the resolution expressing confidence in the Prime Minister.
The prime minister welcomed the decision by the army chief to withdraw the on-duty military officers from the civilian departments by the end of May.
He asked him to do so within next two weeks hoping it would bolster the image of the army.