WAZIRABAD – PPP central information secretary and ex-federal minister Qamar Zaman Kaira on Sunday said the government had taken concrete steps and difficult as well as unpopular decisions for the betterment of the country, its economy and democracy.
Addressing a seminar, chaired by Editor Pakistan Today Arif Nizami, under the aegis of Hameed Nizami Memorial Society, Wazirabad chapter, he said the PPP-led coalition government had restored the constitution to its true spirit, adding all credit goes to the parliament. He thanked Nawaz Sharif for supporting the PPP-led government to stabilise and strengthen democracy.
Kaira said the prices of petroleum products rising frequently all over the world also greatly affected Pakistan. He argued that the worst economic conditions had been inherited by the PPP government. The PPP information secretary said that despite all odds and financial constraints, the government had increased 110 per cent salaries of the employees working in the public sector.
He pleaded that the government should be allowed to work and complete its tenure in the light of Hameed Nizami’s thoughts and philosophy. He vowed to control price hike. Arif Nizami said all the political parties should shun their differences and jointly struggle for the betterment of Pakistan. He was of the view that the two leading political parties could save the people of Pakistan by solving them their social and economic problems.
Senator Syed Zafar Ali Shah said the PPP government had a responsible opposition. He added PML-N was facing the criticism of being ‘friendly opposition.’ He lamented that in the spite of all this, the government was not able to run the country. He criticised the statement of Federal Interior Minister Rehman Malik issued on the floor of the parliament that the government could not stop drone attacks.
ANP Secretary General Ihsan Wyne said Ziaul Haq had gifted the nation Kalashnikov culture whereas Bacha Khan was the champion of human rights and peace. He added Pakhtuns had got their rights because of his struggle and philosophy. Maulana Zahidur Rashidi said had the late Hameed Nizami seen Pakistan today, he would not have been able to recognise it.
Syed Mehfooz Mashhadi said: “We will have to protect the ideology of Pakistan.” Nawab Arsla Khan Hoti from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa condemned the statement of Shahbaz Sharif in which he had proposed that the government, judiciary and army should sit together to formulate a ‘national agenda.’ The seminar was also addressed by Lahore Press Club President and Pakistan Today Executive Editor Sarmad Bashir, Hafiz Umer Farooq, Ch Shahnawaz Cheema, Ch Shaukat Manzoor Cheema MPA and Malik Shahbaz and paid glowing tributes to the late Hameed Nizami for his services during Pakistan Movement and in the field of journalism.
The leaders and workers of all the political parties participated in the seminar.
