PPP govt. committed to parliament’s supremacy: PM

ISLAMABAD : Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani said on Friday the government of Pakistan People’s Party was committed to the supremacy of parliament and independence of judiciary and would never compromise on democratic principles. “Let there be no doubt that our party and its government would not compromise on the democratic principles,” he said at a reception in honour of Socialist International.
“It would not undertake any move that could weaken the parliamentary supremacy, independence of judiciary or freedom of press.”
However, the Prime Minister said that the government believed in adopting the path of dialogue and engagement in order to achieve the objectives instead of adopting a confrontationist mode.
Besides, the delegation of Socialist International Asia-Pacific Committee and its Secretary General, Luis Ayala, the dinner was attended by members of federal cabinet and other senior officials.
He said the party had proved the success of the dialogue process by achieving the main objective of ending the rule of uniform and introduction of genuine democracy.
“We hope to consolidate our position through this strategy.”
The Prime Minister said it was a matter of pride to state that the PPP was the first political party in the Indo-Pak Sub-continent to become member of Socialist International 1990.
Gilani traced the history of the PPP’s struggle for democracy since it was founded in 1967 by Shaheed Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto with a manifesto based on Islamic principles of equality and democratic socialism.
“For us it has been an arduous journey for democracy. This journey is painted with sweat and blood, with toil and vigour, and with pain and anguish.”
He recalled a series of reforms the PPP government took for the working classes soon after coming to power in 1971 that empowered people and gave voice to the common man.
Gilani said it was the government of PPP which introduced the concept of student unions for the first time in our national history. The government of Bhutto gave this country the first-ever unanimous and undisputed constitution, he added.
However, he regretted that in July 1977, the first democratic socialist government was toppled and the first directly elected Prime Minister was eliminated through a judicial murder.
“Attempts were made to undo all the reforms that he introduced. Trade union activities were banned. students unions were declared illegal.”
Prime Minister Gilani said it was at such a testing time that Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto Shaheed took charge of the Party and launched a relentless struggle for the revival of democracy in the country.
But, it was a matter of immense pain and sorrow that the party lost her great leader during the movement for revival of democracy, he said.
Addressing her last rally in Rawalpindi, where she was assassinated, Gilani said Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto pledged to restore the students and trade unions after revival of the democracy in Pakistan.
“Happily it has been done now.”
He said another democratic precedent spearheaded by the PPP leadership was to foster reconciliation and forge alliances with other democratic forces of the country.
Referring to the country’s democratic tradition and political culture that brought hatred instead of tolerance, he credited party’s Co-Chairman, Asif Ali Zardari for bridging this wide gap.
“He has also declared and exercised dialogue and reconciliation with all other elements who have stakes in issues of national as well as international dimensions,” he added.
He said it was for the first time that the party Co-Chairman has voluntarily not opted for the office of the Prime Minister and instead conferred this on another office holder and that too from a separate province.
In his address the Prime Minister also spoke on the issue of terrorism and extremism and underlined efforts of the government to eliminate the twin menace through a war that also took the life of the great leader, Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto.
“Therefore, this war is our own war and we are determined to win it,” he said and hoped the international Community would Pakistan’s contribution and its commitment to eradicate the menace.
Prime Minister Gilani also pointed to the rising oil and food prices in the global market, and expressed the apprehension that it could retard the country’s economic growth, if the trend continued unabated.
He highlighted Pakistan’s efforts for peace and security in the region and beyond is paramount, as the country believed it was imperative for the socio-economic development.
It is with a sense of responsibility towards the future generations that Pakistan has embarked on a composite dialogue with India, Gilani said.
He said peace between India and Pakistan will enable the two countries to use precious and scarce resources to overcome hunger, poverty and disease.
“We are confident that a result-oriented dialogue would purge South Asia of the acrimony and tensions that have marred its atmosphere for so long,” he said.
The Prime Minister expressed the hope that resolution of all outstanding disputes between the two countries, including the core issue of Kashmir, would usher in a new era of peace and development in the region.
He said Pakistan fully supports efforts for the peaceful settlement of disputes in the region and elsewhere.
Secretary General of the Socialist International Asia-Pacific Committee, Luis Ayala in his brief remarks on the occasion paid glowing tributes to Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto for her contribution and efforts for the restoration of democracy and socio-economic development in Pakistan.
He assured all out support of the committee to the present government in its endeavours for increased and sustained socio-economic development in Pakistan and wished well for the democratic rule.