SIALKOT/GUJRANWALA – Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan on Sunday said that the government would complete its constitutional term and overcome all challenges with the public support. Those criticising the Pakistan People’s Party and propagating as if the party would seize to exist in Punjab, would soon realise the warmth shown by the people, she said.
Addressing a public gathering organised at the China Chowk on Kashmir Road in Sialkot, the minister said that only the people had the right to carry out accountability and the PPP was still close to the hearts of every poor man of this country. “We are determined to steering the people out of crisis despite all odds. We would not take a sigh of relief until we provided the relief to people,” she added.
She said the government intended to empower the poor segments of society, as had been envisioned by the martyred leaders of PPP, Shaheed Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto and Shaheed Benazir Bhutto. Talking to reporters, Firdous said the option of reconciliation with the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) was still open, adding that the PPP would play the role of opposition in Punjab.
Firdous said though the PML-N had parted ways with the (PPP), but the latter had not closed its doors for reconciliation. She said Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani wanted to continue work on the 10-point agenda irrespective of the situation in Punjab and did not want to have a deadlock on the parleys over the subject.
To a question on Raymond Davis, she said the government would present its point of view in the court on March 14 and accept any decision. Earlier, MPA Chaudhry Tariq Gujjar, Mian Azhar Hasan Dar, Chaudhry Maqbool, Sardar Ibrahim and a large number of PPP workers welcomed the federal minister at Sheranwal Bagh and showered rose petals on her.
Azad Kashmir President Raja Zulqarnain also accompanied her. Later talking to reporters at Sohdra Morr, she said Nawaz Sharif had violated the Charter of Democracy (CoD) and promises made with Benazir Bhutto. She said the PML-N chief had put the national interests at stake and his decision to oust PPP ministers would be harmful for democracy.
She said the PPP had adopted the policy of reconciliation in the larger interest of the nation and for the promotion of democracy in the country. She said it was the PPP that had taken all the political parties on board for national interest. The minister said the reconciliation policy of her party had left a positive impact on national politics, strengthened democracy and put the country on path to prosperity and development.
