Govt will pursue policy of reconciliation: PM

Premier addresses public gathering, discusses parliamentary elections.

JARANWALA:

Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani reiterated on Saturday that his government would continue to pursue the policy of political reconciliation conceived by slain PPP chairperson Benazir Bhutto.

Addressing a public gathering at Jaranwala, the premier said, “We’re pursuing the reconciliation policy to forge unity among all federating units – this is a unique experience in the country’s political history.”

He said his government has completed the fourth year of its constitutional five-year tenure by taking along all political stakeholders. He added that his government has steered the country out of crises and problems.

“After completing our constitutional term, we will contest the next parliamentary election on the basis of our excellent performance,” he added. “It is the right of the people to vote us or somebody else to power.”

Premier Gilani credited the PPP for a ‘number of sacrifices’ for the promotion of democracy in the county. The party’s founding leader Zulfikar Ali Bhutto never made any compromise on the rights of the people while his daughter, Benazir Bhutto, laid down her life fighting dictatorship, he said.

“Due to her visionary politics, military ruler Pervez Musharraf shed his uniform,” the premier added. “We will also not allow any dictator to usurp powers in the future.”

Without naming PTI chief Imran Khan, Gilani said some people were claiming to ‘take three wickets in one ball.’ “Such people aren’t aware of people’s sentiments and they will not allow them to come to power,” he said.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 12^th, 2012.