Govt wants unanimous 20th Amendment: PM

Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani on Sunday said the government wanted unanimous passage of the 20th Constitutional Amendment and was holding discussions with allies and opposition to reach a mutual understanding. Responding to questions of reporters at the end of the inaugural session of Seerat-un-Nabi (PBUH) Conference, the prime minister said since the parliament passed the previous amendments with consensus, the government desired to go ahead with the 20th Amendment in the same manner. He said since the amendment was a very serious matter and the apex court had also directed to get a nod from parliament, therefore, the government was discussing the matter with its allies.
He said the process was going on and it was passing through the Parliamentary Committee for Law and Justice and different phases to seek point of view of the opposition parties. He said the government wanted free, fair and transparent elections through an independent election commission. Gilani said the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) was not a one-timer and had always suffered because of rigging in the elections and wanted to ensure transparency in the polls. He said a conspiracy was being hatched against the creation of a Seraiki province and the government would work even more effectively for its creation.
He said some people talked of the restoration of Bahawalpur state earlier, but the move had fizzled out as there could not be a state within the state. Asked whether he feared the courts, Gilani said the case was proceeding as part of a process. He, however, said it was the media that from day one had been giving dates of the collapse of government. To a question, the prime minister regretted that since long, not even a single government was allowed to complete its term and it had led to a spate of problems that the nation was facing today.
He said Pakistan and India were created on the same date, but there was a stark difference in how they continued with their system. The completion of term by the parliament is in the interest of the country, he added. Gilani said several conspiracies were hatched to stop the Senate election, however, the government remained committed to holding the election.
When asked about his expected talks in Qatar and discussion on the future of Afghanistan, Gilani said a stable Afghanistan was vital.
“If there is any political reconciliation that is Afghan-led and Afghan-owned, we will support it.” Gilani said Pakistan was part of a core group that included Afghanistan and the United States and it met regularly. About reports of the restoration of NATO supply, the prime minister referred to statements by some political parties who said they would not let these supplies open. He said the government had not taken the decision to halt supplies on the request of these parties, but because of national interest. He said the government would follow the recommendations of the parliamentary committee on relations with the US, as these would represent the views of the entire nation. Meanwhile, Senior PPP leader and Minister for Religious Affairs Khurshi Shah told reporters on Monday that the PPP and PML-N had reached a consensus on the 20th Constitutional Amendment Bill, 2012.