ISLAMABAD – Giving a positive response to implementation of the PML-N’s interim reforms agenda for good governance, Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani on Sunday not only preempted PPP ministers’ possible ouster from the Punjab cabinet but also engaged the PML-N for at least another 45 days – until February 20, the cut-off date for the execution of this agenda.
The PML-N had set a three-day deadline for the government to say a categorical “yes” or “no” to its demands. It had also announced that if the government did not respond positively, the PPP’s ministers in the Punjab would be asked to quit and fresh elections would be demanded.
The prime minister’s politically-smart move has also sent a message to the JUI-F, which has already parted ways with the government, and the MQM, which has rejoined the coalition but not the cabinet, that the PPP is not short of options to keep its government in place.
In a telephonic conversation with PML-N chief Nawaz Sharif, Gilani told him that he had accepted his agenda and the government would try to implement it within 45 days. The PML-N has formed a three-member committee, headed by Senator Ishaq Dar, to assist the government in the implementation of the agenda and check the PPP government’s delivery on its demands.
The 12 demands of the PML-N include the reversal of recent increase in POL prices (now accepted), the formulation of a people-friendly gas, electricity and petrol pricing mechanism, the end of gas and electricity load shedding, the immediate sacking of all corrupt ministers and other government officials, the immediate arrest of inflation, the implementation of the SC verdict on the NRO case,
the completion of the composition of the Election Commission of Pakistan, the reduction in cabinet size, the transparent probe of Haj, NICL, Steel Mills and the Bank of Punjab scams, the establishment of an independent accountability commission, the recovery of all politically-written off loans, cut in the government’s expenses by 30 percent and the protection of country’s integrity and sovereignty.
Later, addressing a press conference, Prime Minister Gilani said the usage of the word ultimatum was not right as all political parties were equal. “Nawaz also told me in a telephonic conversation that he had not used the word ultimatum in his press conference,” he said. He said all political parties had to jointly steer the country out of the crisis. “How can we reject the opposition’s cooperation?” he said, adding that before talking to Nawaz he had talked to President Asif Zardari and the president had expressed the PPP’s solidarity with him.
“I also talked to Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain, Altaf Hussain, Pir Pagara, Fazlur Rehman, Aftab Sherpao, Munir Khan Orakzai and all of them assured me of their full cooperation,” he said. The premier said Nawaz Sharif had told him that after the government’s positive reply there was no question of ousting the PPP from the Punjab government. “I also told Nawaz that I took all leaders into confidence and he welcomed it,” he said.
Prime Minister Gilani said the government was restructuring public sector organisations. “The matter of restructuring of PEPCO, Railways, PIA and the Steel Mills will be taken up in the next federal cabinet meeting,” he said, adding that some issues raised by the PML-N and other political parties could be resolved at the platform of the Council of Common Interest. To a question about amending the blasphemy law, Gilani said the government had no intention to amend the law.
“Fazlur Rehman also took up the matter with me in a recent telephonic talk and I assured him that the government had no intention to amend the blasphemy law,” he added. Asked how many demands of the PML-N were doable, the prime minister said, “When the PML-N’s committee under Senator Ishaq Dar will sit with us, we will decide about the feasibility of the demands. Either they will convince us or we will convince them with arguments,” he added.
He said the government would also address demands of PML-N’s long-term agenda. On the question of the PPP’s possible voluntary pullout from the Punjab government, Prime Minister Gilani said, “We never took an extreme step and will not take in the future. When the PML-N quit the federal government, we did not quit the Punjab government.”
He said in his opinion Fazlur Rehman would not be comfortable with anyone except the PPP. Responding to another query, Gilani said the MQM was not an angry ally, rather it had reservations which were addressed by the PPP. He said being the sensible coalition partners, the PPP, the MQM and the ANP would jointly resolve the Karachi law and order issue.
