ISLAMABAD – Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani on Thursday termed the unanimous passage of the 19th Amendment Bill from the Senate as a new year gift to the nation, which reflected maturity of all the political leadership of country.
Speaking in the House after it unanimously passed the landmark bill, the prime minister said that it had dispelled the impression as if the parliament was ineffective or a rubber-stamp one. “The upheaval task which the current parliament has performed, is unprecedented,” he said.
On the occasion, Prime Minister announced highest civil award of Nishan-e-Imtiaz for the Parliamentary Committee on Constitutional Reforms to be awarded in January next year. He said that the amendment indicated that the government respected the judiciary and the latter respected the parliament by referring the bill back to it.
Gilani said that this was the first ever government which had equally disbursed funds among the parliamentarians without any discrimination. “We have taken along all with us, and have equally given share to everybody in the development funds,” he said. The parliament had translated the wishes of the people by unanimously passing 57 bills, he said.
He stressed for putting an end to speculations which had created disappointment among the masses and halted development work. “We want institutions to be strengthened. We are with you if you want to bring legislation for national interests. We do not want to make it an issue of our ego,” the prime minister said.
