PM hints at Musharraf’s trial upon homecoming

MULTAN: Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani on Monday said that if and when former president Pervez Musharraf returns to the country he will be “warmly welcomed” by Chief Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry.

The prime minister made this sarcastic comment while talking to the media after visiting PML-N leader Javed Hashmi.  “We don’t want democracy to be derailed at any cost. Whenever he (Musharraf) comes back he will have to face courts hence the chief justice will give him a warm welcome upon his arrival to Pakistan,” he said.

Commenting on the rehabilitation of flood victims, Prime Minister Gilani said he has asked MNAs and senators to divert development funds towards rehabilitation of the flood victims and thanked political parties and leaders, the civil society and the international community for extending support to the country at this time of crisis. He said that a united endeavour by all political forces can help solve the country’s problems and mitigate sufferings of those affected by the floods. “Pakistanis are a brave nation and their united effort to reach out to the flood victims is indicative of their strength,” he said. “We can rebuild a new Pakistan, rebuild the homes
of the poor flood victims with the support of the people,” Prime Minister Gilani said.

He also aired an impassioned appeal to the nation to keep supporting the government and extend cooperation to rebuild demolished homes of the flood-hit people and help them re-launch their businesses they had lost to the worst flooding.

He said that he was fully aware of the problems of the people and would visit Multan twice a month to help address issues and oversee the relief and rehabilitation operation in flood-hit areas, adding that as prime minister, entire Pakistan was his constituency which broadens the scope of his responsibility.

The primer said he desired that everybody, including the opposition, be involved in all important issues because unity among political forces was a recipe for solving the country’s problems. “I consult parliament on all issues and believe in strengthening institutions under the ambit of the constitution.”

Prime Minister Gilani pledged to strengthen the parliament and work for the supremacy of the constitution, promising to promote a fair and transparent system comprising strong institutions that does not overlook the poor and in which talented people get the jobs they deserve. “We are moving forward in this direction,” he remarked.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 14^th, 2010.