ISLAMABAD, Aug 29: National Alliance leader and former president Farooq Ahmed Leghari has said if the alliance comes to power, it will implement its 20-point programme focusing on empowerment of the common man.

“The foremost among the 20 objectives earmarked by the NA is the empowerment of the common man so that he may get a respectable place in the society”, he told the German Radio, VOG.

He said the objective was based on education, devolution of power and decentralization. “We think the provincial autonomy, justice and rising poverty are other big problems being faced by the Pakistani society. Millions live below poverty line and roll backing this grave poverty and unemployment must be our target,” he added.

Mr Leghari said that 58-2 (b) had been restored and it was because of that clause that martial law had been averted on many occasions in the past. As long as the National Security Council was concerned, he said, “I have already said on many occasions that it would lead towards improvement of the situation if its role is consultative.”

He was of the view that as the NSC’s present format was consultative, it would not affect the sovereignty of parliament.—APP