Govt laughs off PML-N names for interim PM

The PPP-led coalition government on Thursday laughed off three proposed names finalised by PML-N leader Chaudhry Nisar for the caretaker prime minister’s slot, stating that the three nominations made by PML-N also included the name of a politician who had been criticised by the party in the past.
Nisar had told reporters that three names had been finalised for the interim PM. The nominees were Justice (r) Nasir Aslam Zahid, Justice (r) Shakirullah Jan and veteran politician Rasul Bakhsh Palejo.
Briefing the reporters on the decision of the last sitting of the federal cabinet, Federal Information Minister Qamar Zaman Kaira said the PML-N should have adopted political sagacity, adding that the Federal Cabinet had extended provincial quota in the federal government jobs for another 20 years.
He said that during the cabinet meeting, Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf said that judiciary, media and the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) were independent today and hence there was no chance of rigging in the upcoming general elections.
Kaira said the PM had also said the government had made efforts to improve national economy besides providing basic amenities to people during the past five year.
Raja said further terrorism was a big challenge and all political forces would have to work in unison to curb the menace, Kaira added.
The prime minister had also termed all parties conferences convened by the Awami National Party (ANP) and the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl as positive step to eliminate terrorism. The PPP also participated in the APC and would always welcome such steps which will help stabilise the country, he added.
He said in order to facilitate farmers the cabinet also decided to provide them a subsidy of 16 billion rupees on agricultural tube wells. The cabinet allowed the Unaccounted For Gas (UFG) at 50 percent of the demand made by the gas companies as an interim relief to them. He said a committee was also formed to determine the pricing formula and arrive at the exact volume of the UFG within three months.
The committee on prevention of corruption presented its 12-point recommendations to the cabinet, which were approved. The committee suggested documentation of economy, automation of revenue record, documentation of public institutions, introduction of companies’ structure, preparation of national corruption strategy, a powerful editor general of Pakistan and steps to dispose of revenue cases, pending in the court.
Kaira said the cabinet also approved establishment of the Federal Law University. He said a review of the performance of the present cabinet was also presented before the meeting.
It was informed that the cabinet held 130 meetings and took 1,561 decisions. Of which, 1,227 have already been implemented, while the remaining 334 are under implementation.