PPP in no mood for confrontation: PM

Gilani says ‘some elements’ are conspiring to provoke clashes between state institutions.

ISLAMABAD:

Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani on Monday said some elements were conspiring to create a clash between state institutions, but vowed that his government would thwart such designs through its commitment to democracy and constitutionalism.

Chairing a meeting of the federal cabinet, the premier also termed the fresh friction between the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) unfortunate.

The cabinet gave a go-ahead to the defence ministry to initiate deliberations in response to an offer by China to sell six submarines to Pakistan, according to Information Minister Firdous Ashiq Awan, who later briefed the media about the meeting.

A handout by the premier’s office quoted him as telling the meeting that there was no possibility of a clash between  state institutions.

“This cabinet unanimously dispels the impression that our government is in any mood for a confrontation with any state institution,” Gilani said. He said the government was functioning within the domain defined by the constitution and fully respects the decisions of the superior judiciary.

The statement came days after the PPP called for a strike in Sindh against a decision by the Supreme Court to remove the chief of the country’s top accountability body who was appointed by President Asif Ali Zardari last year.

Gilani did say that an atmosphere of uncertainty was being created by certain quarters regarding the possibility of a confrontation between state institutions.

The prime minister cited that the PPP, during its 40 years of struggle, had stood for the protection of state institutions and “will not, in any way, entangle and intrude in the ambit of any other state institution”.

Gilani also apprised the federal cabinet about his meeting with the US special representative on Afghanistan and Pakistan Marc Grossman.

“He was reminded that long term Pakistan-US relations cannot be adversely affected by isolated acts of individuals and the two countries should remain focused on eliminating the bane of extremism from this region,” the prime minister said.

Gilani informed the cabinet about a number of agreements and memorandums of understanding (MoUs) with friendly countries. He said during the last three years, many MoUs and agreements have been signed, but pointed out that the ministries have been sending routine responses which were not reflective of the true spirit behind the signing of these agreements. “Had these agreements been properly executed, I feel our economy, the social sector as a whole, and the physical infrastructure would have significantly improved the enabling environment required for development in all spheres of life.”

Published in The Express Tribune, March 15^th, 2011.