Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani called for national unity and solidarity to counter threats to Pakistan’s sovereignty during his address to Peshawar High Court Bar Association (PHCBA) on Wednesday.
“We are determined to sacrifice for the sovereignty of our country,” he said, without overtly mentioning the diplomatic crossfire between the US and Pakistan. He asked everyone to unite irrespective of their political affiliations or beliefs in the face of ongoing sensitive situation. In addition to the prime minister, Khyber Pakhtoonkhwa (KPK) Governor Barrister Masud Kausar also addressed the congregation of lawyers.
Accompanying Gilani at the occasion were Punjab Governor Sardar Latif Khosa, KPK Chief Minister Amir Haider Khan Hoti, Federal Ministers Haji Ghulam Ahmad Bilour, Arbab Alamgir, Advisor to the PM Asma Alamgir, and National Assembly Deputy Speaker Faisal Karim Kundi. PHCBA President Khawaja Mohammad Khan Gara and Secretary General Amin ur Rahman welcomed the prime minister and briefed him over the contributions made by KPK lawyers in the movement for the restoration of judges and democracy.
Gilani narrated the achievements of his government by starting with his orders for the release of all judges arrested during the regime of former President Pervez Musharraf. He said that he and his party were at the forefront of the judges’ restoration movement. He recalled that his party’s assassinated leader Benazir Bhutto had announced hosting the Pakistani flag at the residence of Peshawar High Court’s chief judge at her visit to Peshawar. He said that his government firmly supported the independence of judiciary.
Gilani noted that the founder of Pakistan Quaid-i-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah and the founder of Pakistan People’s Party Zulfikar Ali Bhutto were both lawyers. He said that Bhutto had given the country its present constitution of 1973, which his party had restored in its original form through the 18th amendment. He said the amendment had resolved the issue of provincial autonomy, which was long demanded by smaller provinces, adding that it had also resolved the issue of the National Finance Commission, enabling KPK of enhancing its receipts.
The prime minister said the amendment had helped to reform the outdated Frontier Crimes Regulations in the Tribal Areas. He said his government had given the civil status to Kala Dhaka which had now become Torghar district. He also announced Rs 500 million for PHCBA and told the KPK chief minister and governor to address the needs of lawyers.
