“No caretaker … or chair-taker will come [in Pakistan],” Gilani said while addressing the inauguration ceremony of Air University’s new campus in Multan. The prime minister is currently facing a contempt of court notice by the Supreme Court for not complying with its orders regarding the National Reconciliation Order case.
If charged, Gilani may have to step down and serve a six-month jail term.
PPP’s ‘achievements’
Boasting about the ruling Pakistan Peoples Party’s achievements, Gilani said the government has fulfilled the promise of organising the Senate elections on time.
“The budget of May will be the first 5th budget by any democratic government of Pakistan,” he added.
The premier also claimed credit for being more open to criticism and opposition than any government in the country’s history.
“The PPP always wants to see an independent and empowered parliament, judiciary and media but they all have to work within the limits of the law and the Constitution. There is no restriction on the media and there won’t be any in the future,” Gilani said.
He added that the movements for Bahawalpur and Hazara provinces were meant to divert attention from the formation of a Seraiki province, which, he said, ‘is the real issue’.
US or Iran
The premier also reiterated resolve to work with Iran and the gas pipeline deal, despite US pressure. The Pakistan-US relations have seen fluctuations but relations with Iran have been consistently good, Gilani said.
“We will accept no foreign pressure,” he said, adding that the decisions with Iran would be independent and based on the priority of Pakistan’s interests.
Published in The Express Tribune, March 4th, 2012.
COMMENTS (16)
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@yousaf;
No one deny that Pakistan is our Identity. And seariki too strongly believe it.. even Bengali too dont deny but just think i Bengali were patriot ( no doubt) then why do bangladesh come into exist. Because leadership of Pakistan tried to exploit their resources and do not tret them on equal bases. justice was not there. And taking advantage of this sense of deprivation india start conspiracy and at last Bangladesh came int exist.
I am just talking about justice. Every province has some resource and on respective resources there is quota ( etc) of native land or province. there is quota of Army, medical, engineering etc.Our simple question is why don't we have right to use our resources of our betterment. in the field of Education, health, infrastructure etc.
Why Sharif bros and all dictators has right to snatch our resources.
My brother You can easily verify how much budget of Punjab do spent in seariki area. Despite seariki are comprise about 52% of Punjab population and generates 70% of total Punjab agriculture revenue.
By 5 sub nations or identities I mean equality in these sort of right (constitutionally)
this is most abstract representative of real issue.
I am happy that latest some peoples like you are there to really find the real issue. Don't confuse in with demand of Hazara province. hazara province is language based. hazara is most developed Division of KPK. But seariki cause is 40 year old. Since 1970 when one unit breaks and the Bahawalpur province was not made.
@ Saleem Khan---"As Pakistan has mainly 5 different nations"?? what exactly do you mean by this statement of yours?.In a way may be,you are right,because if Pakistan was one nation the likes of you would not dare utter such words.My thought goes to the blood of millions during riots of 47,which,all looks to have gone down the drain.Then,we thought we were making ONE nation
@Punjabi:
Making new provinces will not make federation weak but federation will be more string. As Pakistan has mainly 5 different nations Baloch, Punjabi, Pushtoon, Sindhi and seariki. SO If seariki want their constitutional right as enjoyed by other sub nation’s of Pakistan then whats wrong in it. And let me tell you majority of Non-Seariki of seariki area are in favor of it.
Balderdash was formed because leadership of Pakistan of that time refuse to accept the rights of Bengali peoples. And this sense of deprivation it the aid of india result into Bangladesh.
Also my dear same dictatorship concept was applied to Baluchistan and situation of Baluchistan is now before you.
So my dear please think of Pakistan as whole keeping view that Pakistan is sum of Pakistan= Punjabi + Sindhi + Balochi + Pashtoon + Seaiki
Prime Minister is only mentioning about Saraiki Province time and again but has nver mentioned that Karachi should also be made a separate Province.
If people can demand Saraiki Province, why not people of Karachi can also demand for a separate province?
In fact, Karachiites should have asked for a separate province, the day Late General Ayub Khan took the capital from Karachi to Islamabad in 1960.
Saraikistan is our right.Say no to exploitation.Long live Pakistan and well done Gilani,keep it up.
@Blithe:
Making new provinces will not make federation weak but federation will be more string. As Pakistan has mainly 5 different nations Baloch, Punjabi, Pushtoon, Sindhi and seariki. SO If seariki want their constitutional right as enjoyed by other sub nation's of Pakistan then whats wrong in it. And let me tell you majority of Non-Seariki of seariki area are in favor of it.
Balderdash was formed because leadership of Pakistan of that time refuse to accept the rights of Bengali peoples. And this sense of deprivation it the aid of india result into Bangladesh.
Also my dear same dictatorship concept was applied to Baluchistan and situation of Baluchistan is now before you.
So my dear please think of Pakistan as whole keeping view that Pakistan is sum of Pakistan= Punjabi + Sindhi + Balochi + Pashtoon + Seaiki
@Blithe Constitution allow formation of new province. And Its true and legitimate demand of the people.
If Punjab will be divided, our federation will break. Please do not play with fire, Balochistan is already going out of our hands, learn some lessons Prime 'Pir' Sb.
Prime Minister is consistent in back tracking from his words, he knows very well that seven peoples were martyred and around 100 were wounded by brutal firing of (those claim to be followers of Adam Tashadud) during Hazara province movement. It is movement of hazara province that brought the smaller administrative units in to debate. If democracy is respecting will of the people than people of Hazara shown that they want Hazara to be a province. There does not seem any conspiracy against Seriki province rather conspiracies against Hazara province are clear, dividing Hazara division in to two divisions, denying representation to Hazara in senate by all parties except JUI. Prime minster should avoid such statements which can create unrest in hazara
You have it right on the money, Mr. Gilani. You and your... er... "leadership" have not gone anywhere since elections and consequently, neither has the country. It needs a change of direction. Why don't you start by stop being a foot mat for the president and start taking decisions on your own ?
p.m. is not going anywhere except S.C.
Creation Saraiki province can strengthen Pakistan....and this will be the richest province of Pakistan...Thank you PM.....
Why do we need to split Pakistan into yet more Provinces. Four Provinces are creating enough divides. If anything they should remove the provinces and just work with districts or counties. This would localise the issues that should be local, and the government would just have itself to blame.
A PM actively looking to break federating units doesn't deserve to be PM.
He needs to be arm's length from this process and allow the constitution to work
hazara province is not a conspiracy, mr. gillani ... this is the legitimate requirement of those ppl.