Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Qamar Zaman Kaira said the Council of Common Interests (CCI) will decide on disputed issues like the Kalabagh dam. Talking to media personnel at an annual funfair of the Muslim Hands Educational Complex on Saturday, Kaira said the Pakistan Peoples’ Party (PPP) respected the judiciary, for democracy was incomplete without an independent judiciary. He said the CCI was formed to decide on disputed matters among the provinces and it had been strengthened under the 18th Amendment. If the CCI failed to take a decision on an issue, then it will be discussed in the parliament, he added. Kaira said when the PPP came into power, the country was facing multiple problems many of which had been resolved by now. Responding to a question, he said the government had asked all journalist organisations, including the Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists, to suggest ways for improving security of journalists. He stressed that security-related incidents with journalists should be properly addressed. “Hamid Mir has himself refused the security offered to him,” he added. Replying to another question, the minister said the PPP would contest the upcoming elections in alliance with the PML-Q. He said that the PML-N chief had advised Shahbaz Sharif to not use foul language against President Asif Ali Zardari. He also criticised the National Assembly Opposition Leader Chaudhry Nisar for using foul language against the President. Earlier, addressing the ceremony, Kaira appreciated the Muslim Hands Network for helping deserving people in Muslim countries throughout the world. He further said education was the only way to progress and nations focusing on knowledge and education eventually rule the world.
