Govt wants to sit with MQM to resolve differences, says Firdous

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Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan has said that the Pakistan People’s Party-led government wants to sit with the Mutahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) to resolve differences, as all should know that nothing is final and ultimate in politics.
She said issues with the former coalition partner would be settled through consultation soon after return of President Asif Ali Zardari from abroad, she said while addressing “Meet the Press” programme at the Lahore Press Club on Friday.
Dr Firdous said that the historic victory of the PPP in the recently-held elections in Azad Kashmir had brushed aside rumours of the mid-term polls in the country. She also said that statements and criticism of Nawaz Sharif on the Azad Kashmir elections could harm the Kashmir cause.
“Free and fair elections were held in Azad Kashmir but the Punjab government was involved in rigging at various polling stations in the province,” she told a questioner. About new provinces, the minister said that the matter should be settled as per rules and regulations as the provinces had powers to decide on the issue.
Dr Firdous appreciated the media role and asked it (media) to devise a code of conduct, and also urged it to guard the national interests. She told the audience that the Electronic Media Directorate had been established in the Press Information Department (PID) in Islamabad to facilitate the electronic media.
On the Wage Board Award, the minister said that the matter would be resolved in consultation with newspapers owners and media representatives. She also gave a cheque of one million rupees in grant to the press club. LPC President Sarmad Bashir announced honorary membership of the prestigious club for the federal minister.
She said the PPP government had restored the 1973 Constitution to its original form by enacting the 18th Amendment after taking all political parties on board. She congratulated all political and democratic forces for their role in the restoration of the 1973 Constitution, and said President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani had fulfilled the commitment of the late Benazir Bhutto by empowering provinces.
“The devolution of powers to provinces will help eradicate sense of deprivation among federating units and resolve problems of the masses,” she said. The PPP government had already delegated financial powers to the provinces under the NFC Award, she added. She urged all political parties to extend support to the government on national issues.