Independent judiciary fruit of democracy: PM

Prime Minister Raja Pervaiz Ashraf on Tuesday said an independent media, judiciary and parliament were fruits of the democratic system in the country.
“It’s a matter of great pride that Pakistan has an independent judiciary, an independent media, and democratically-elected parliament and basic rights of the middle class people are the dividends of democracy,” the prime minister said while addressing the APP regularisation certificate distribution ceremony that distributed letters among the contract and daily wage employees of the Associated Press of Pakistan (APP) at the Prime Minister’s Secretariat. The prime minister said the coalition government led by Pakistan People’s Party had strong roots in the masses and it was taking effective steps for the progress, prosperity and welfare of the people.
He said when there was no democracy, there was no independent judiciary or media. The prime minister said the dictators damaged the freedom and independence of judiciary and democracy. Citing the policy of reconciliation of the present government, the prime minister said the selection of Fakhuruddin G Ebrahim as consensus candidate for the psoition of chief election commissioner indicated that consensus could be developed with sincerity and dedication.
The prime minister said the government was committed to holding free, fair and transparent election in the country and the consensus on the new CEC was a step in the right direction. He said the government was not against the Supreme Court and had full respect and honour for it. The prime minister urged the opposition to come forward and discuss things with the government to reach consensus on various issues so that the country could progress.
“The dictators, who are now giving advices to rule the country, even could not take decision on National Finance Commission in 10 years and it was the credit of the present democratic government to finalise the NFC that gave more share to the provinces,” he said. The prime minister said a few former prime ministers after their tenures confined themselves just to their families instead of returning to the masses.