Gilani says judiciary to be made independent

ASSOCIATED PRESS SERVICE

MULTAN : Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani on Saturday vowed for independence of judiciary and institutions and restoration of 1973 Constitution. Addressing a large public meeting here, the Prime Minister said that people have voted overwhelmingly for the democratic forces in the February 18 elections. “We will fight to ensure independence of judiciary, media and institutions and restore the 1973 Constitution,” he said in his address. He said PPP was a true symbol of federation which had branches not only in the four provinces and Azad Kashmir, but was recognised internationally.
The Prime Minister said he was in Multan for a couple of days during which he will announce a package to establish educational institutions, employment schemes for the youth and supply of natural gas.
“The Pakistan Peoples Party will fulfil its manifesto of roti, kapra aur makan,” he added.
“We want to ensure that backward areas are brought at par with other developed cities of Pakistan and to end their sense of deprivation.”
Yousuf Raza Gilani said it was wrong to say that there was no democracy within the party as he has been made the prime minister after being elected as member of National Assembly.
He said the people have strong faith in the PPP and its coalition partners that it will deliver on its promises.
Unanimous vote of confidence which he got from the National Assembly was unprecedented in the history of Pakistan, he added.
Yousuf Raza Gilani, who is on his first visit to his home town after being elected the Prime Minister, before his address led fateha prayers for Shaheed Benazir Bhutto.
Foreign Minister Makhdoom Shah Mehmood Qureshi in his address said it was due to the sacrifices of Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto and Benazir Bhutto that people voted for PPP with an overwhelming majority.
He said their sacrifices have led to the rebirth of democracy in Pakistan leading to an end to dictatorship.
He said the opponents, who thought that power will never be transferred to the PPP and its coalition partners, have been proven wrong not only in the centre but in all the four provinces.
The foreign minister said the unwise policies of Shaukat Aziz have plunged the country into a host of problems.
Earlier on his arrival at Multan airport, the Prime Minister was received by Chief Minister Punjab Dost Mohammad Khosa, Governor Lt Gen (rtd) Khalid Maqbool, federal and provincial ministers and a large number of people.