LAHORE
Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani has announced to hold of local government (LG) elections next year, but said a final date would be announced by the Election Commission of Pakistan.
Addressing a gathering of the party’s parliamentary leaders at the Governor’s House on Saturday, Gilani said proposals from all the provinces would also be collected in this regard. The prime minister said the PPP government respected all institutions and had no intention to challenge the authority of any one of them.
He said the government would complete its constitutional term and asked parliamentarians to pay no attention to rumors regarding the “government’s ouster”. The prime minister said the last two-and-a-half years had been very tough for the PPP government, “but it is committed to resolving the people’s problems”.
Gilani said the PPP’s policy of reconciliation would continue with all political parties, including the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz. The parliamentarians informed the prime minister about the scarcity of funds and demanded additional funding for Punjab, upon which Gilani promised to look into the matter and talk to the Punjab chief minister also.
Gilani announced Rs 20 million for legislators for spending on welfare schemes. To a demand of 25 arms licenses for each PPP Punjab parliamentarian, Gilani only allowed one license for each MPA from Punjab. The prime minister listened to the grievances of the party members, saying reconciliation with the PML-N would continue despite difficulties. He also asked the members to be “patient”, adding that the PPP would try its best to address all issues of national interest in the light of the CoD.
