Federal Information Minister Qamar Zaman Kaira on Tuesday said that the Frontier Corps (FC) could not be called back from Balochistan at the request of Pakistan Muslim League – Nawaz (PML-N) chief Nawaz Sharif adding that it is Nawaz Sharif and not Asif Ali Zardari who backs out from pledges.
Speaking to media representatives at the Lahore airport, Kaira welcomed the meeting between Sharif and Jamhoori Watan Party (JWP) chief Talal Bugti.
Kaira added that following his meeting with Bugti, the PML-N chief had demanded the FC’s withdrawal from Balochistan.
He added that if Sharif took the responsibility to ensure law and order in the province in case of the FC’s withdrawal from the province, then the federal government could consider his demand.
Moreover, Kaira said that the agencies functioned under the government’s directives and added that the agencies had submitted affidavits in court regarding the missing persons.
He said the constitutional course will be pursed for the establishment of new provinces including South Punjab.
The minister further said that the PML-N had proposed the creation of a national commission on the creation of southern Punjab earlier but later retreated from its stance.
Rejecting reservations of the PML (N) ‚ he said the commission will continue the work and present its report.
Welcoming the talks of PML (N) Chief Nawaz Sharif with Baloch leaders including Talal Bughti and Akhtar Mengal‚ he said Nawaz Sharif being a national leader however should avoid giving irresponsible statements.
He said Pakistan People’s Party has worked to improve the situation in Balochistan and we have welcomed the visit of Baloch leader Akhtar Mengal to Islamabad.
Speaking on the occasion‚ Minister for Religious Affairs Syed Khurshid Shah said we believe in the independence of judiciary and our leaders have always appeared before the courts.
Meanwhile talking in a private TV channel program Tuesday Information Minister Qamar Zaman Kaira alleged it was Nawaz Sharif who backed out from pledges and not President Asif Ali Zardari.
“When father of Mian Nawaz Sharif passed away, President Zardari went to him to offer condolence. Nawaz Sharif on this occasion asked President Zardari to remove Pervez Musharraf from his office. President accepted this plea and asked Musharraf to part ways. But President Zardari developed difference on this point that Nawaz Sharif withdrew after pitching him against Musharraf. In a meeting wherein impeachment move was to be worked out against Musharraf, Nawaz Sharif took the president Zardari aside and started setting new conditions”, he said.
He held in the past whenever governments came into existence they concentrated all the powers with them but it was only the PPP which devolved maximum powers to provinces through NFC award and this way 70 percent of national exchequer goes to the provinces. “Still we are taking other steps on this count”, he added.
“Democratic order is in place in Pakistan. I appeal to opponents to let democratic process go ahead”, he remarked.
Problems are enormous while resources are meager in our country and despite it, PPP is taking commendable steps to address the problems, he underlined.
Parties holding two thirds majority also came into power here but they could not sort out the problems facing the masses, he charged.
Responding to a question he said several accused involved in Benazir Bhutto assassination had been apprehended and they were facing case. Investigation in this respect is underway. However mastermind of this case is absconding and efforts are in progress to trace him out, he pointed out.
“Electricity demand rises every year. If this demand stands at 15000 megawatt this year it will scale upto 16000 megawatts next year. Therefore, our government introduced several power generation projects and we are endeavoring hard to overcome load shedding”, he stated. No power project even with production capacity of one megawatt was installed during Nawaz Sharif and Musharraf regimes, he alleged. Therefore, power shortfall shot up through gradual rising , he added. Major chunk of generated power is used in Punjab and I make it clear that gas, power problem is the problem of the entire country and it is not correct to dub it only problem of Punjab, he remarked.
Elections will take place as per schedule, he said adding “but if our allies ask for holding the election one or two months earlier then it will be held so and election commission is fully prepared for it, he announced.
Kaira alleges Nawaz for backing out from pledges
