To a question regarding Shahbaz Sharif’s meeting with the army chief General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani, Gilani said it was nothing to worry about and that the security situation and the war on terror prompted the meetings between the two. When asked about the conviction of Aasia Bibi, rumours of repeal of the blasphemy act and the strong opposition by the religious parties, he said “it was a non- issue and would be resolved soon.”
Gilani also expressed confidence that the National Assembly, like the Senate, would adopt the reformed general sales tax (GST) bill, asserting the parliament is his strength.“ The opposition has every right to criticise and the government will entertain diverse opinions on the RGST with positive intent,” he added.
Regarding comments by the leader of the opposition in the National Assembly Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan on reformed GST, Gilani said he has “great respect for the leader of the opposition, but if we expect the world to help us with the money of their taxpayers, the world also expects us to pay taxes and generate revenue for the rehabilitation of our own people.”
To a question about improving relations with the opposition, Gilani said diversity of opinion was the soul of democracy. He said it was unprecedented in the democratic history of the country that politics of reconciliation and a culture of no political victimisation is introduced by a political party itself, referring to the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP). There are no political prisoners in jails at present, he stated.
The prime minister said the government was in the process of re-prioritising the public sector development programme in the aftermath of recent unprecedented floods in the country, adding that maximum resources would be awarded to the provinces.
Published in The Express Triune, November 28th, 2010.
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