Cooperation and joint efforts needed to strengthen democracy; Gilani

ISLAMABAD : Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani Tuesday said the country was in the grip of serious crisis, and required cooperation and joint efforts to strengthen democracy.“We are determined to take the nation out of the crisis, with the cooperation of allies,” Prime Minister Gilani said at a reception hosted in honour of the cabinet here at the PM House.
The Prime Minister referring to a statement by the PML-N leader Nawaz Sharif that this coalition would remain intact said, “it is the right signal to the people of Pakistan.”
“This is not all, they (people) want more,” Gilani said and added that the people believe that “when we have joined hands we should take this country out of crisis.”
Gilani said the nation was facing serious crisis of judiciary, constitution, strengthening the institutions, unemployment, poverty and inflation.
“The nation has high hopes from its saner and mature leadership (and) all our institutions need to support each other in this regard.”
Earlier the Federal Ministers belonging to Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz) tendered their resignations to Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani, following disagreement over the issue of judges.
Prime Minister Gilani asked the PML-N ministers to wait and continue to hold their offices till the matter is discussed with the co-chairman of Pakistan Peoples Party Asif Ali Zardari, who will be returning home soon form London.
“Lets wait and try to resolve the matter,” he said and quoted Zardari’s message not to accept the resignation till such time, he arrives.
Prime Minister Gilani said there was no doubt on either side about sincere intentions of the other partner.
“The only difference is on the modalities,” he added.
The Prime Minister said the government was sincere in resolving the problems of the judiciary and recalled that soon after winning confidence vote he had ordered the release of the judges.
Prime Minister Gilani recalled the strong partnership the two parties had enjoyed during the time when their leaders were in exile. He said despite separate identities, manifestos, the two had joined hands for the restoration of democracy and judges and independence of media.
He said the unprecedented vote of confidence that he got was a reflection of the nation’s expectations from the new government and the mandate it had reposed in it.
The ministers submitted their resignation six weeks after the PML-N joined the coalition government led by Pakistan People’s Party. The ministers took oath of office on March 31.
The two major partners in the four-party coalition failed to agree on the mode of restoration of judges, who were deposed with the imposition of emergency on November 3, 2007.
The ministers met Prime Minister Gilani at the PM House and submitted their resignations.
The nine ministers who resigned their cabinet posts include; Ch Nisar Ali Khan, Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, Mrs Tehmina Daultana, Rana Tanveer Ahmed, Muhammad Ishaq Dar, Khawaja Muhammad Asif, Sardar Mehtab Ahmed Khan, Ahsan Iqbal and Khawaja Saad Rafique.
Prime Minister Gilani termed the current cabinet the best the country ever had and expressed his gratitude for extending full cooperation.
Prime Minister Gilani politely refused to accept the resignations and said that the decision to accept or otherwise will be decided after the arrival of Co-Chairman Asif Ali Zardari in Pakistan.
Ch. Nisar Ali Khan apprised the Prime Minister that PML(N) will continue to support the government in the national interest and to strengthen the cause of democracy.
He said that despite a decision to quit the cabinet the PML-N would remain part of the coalition. “We will sit on treasury benches.”
Khan said that the future of Pakistani nation was tied to the success of this coalition and “it will not be wrong to say that God forbid, any setback to this coalition will be a setback to the future of Pakistan.”
Referring to the six-week period of the coalition government, Khan said despite some “ups and downs” and problems, there was not an iota of doubt on the sincerity of anyone.
“Everyone wanted betterment of Pakistan, to take the democratic process forward.”
He said it was a unique experience the two major parties which opposed each other during the last 18 years, and had different manifestos, joined hands for the sake of Pakistan and to pull the country out of crisis.
Khan assured full cooperation and support of his party to the government, but said it would continue to speak within the party and with the government on any issue it disagreed on.
He expressed good wishes for the government and the party leadership.
The Prime Minister appreciated the gesture of PML (N) to remain part of coalition for sake of democracy, and to help solve the problems of the people.