|
|
| 02 May 2004 | Sunday | 11 Rabi-ul-Awwal 1425 |
Jamali, Shujaat discuss situation: Calls for polls annoy PM
ISLAMABAD, May 1: Prime Minister Mir Zafarullah Khan Jamali met PML-Q president Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain on Saturday and discussed with him the political situation
, particularly the 'developments' that took place when he was abroad.
Sources told Dawn that the prime minister expressed displeasure over the statements made by some senior party office-bearers about the possibility of early elections and his government's performance.
Chaudhry Shujaat later said he had asked party's senior vice- president Kabir Ali Wasti to explain as to why he had issued the statement against the prime minister.
Mr Jamali's rush to Chaudhry Shujaat's residence within 24 hours of his return from a 9-day foreign tour is being viewed here as 'highly significant' in the backdrop of speculations about the fate of his government.
Talking to newsmen after the meeting, the prime minister ruled out the possibility of mid-term elections and said the elections would be held on time. He said the assemblies would complete their tenure and there was no threat to the system.
In reply to a question about his reported differences with Chaudhry Shujaat, Mr Jamali said he took all decisions in consultations with the PML-Q president. He said the issue of cabinet expansion would also be resolved through consultations.
The prime minister said there was a unanimity of views on all political issues among all the PML-Q leaders. "We all are going in one direction as far as national policies are concerned."
Talking about the wheat crisis, he expressed the hope that the issue would be resolved soon. He said Punjab was the main wheat producer and it had the right to take steps keeping in view its own requirements.
However, he pointed out, certain measures were needed to minimize the role of the middleman and to ensure that growers got their due share.
On Mian Shahbaz Sharif's possible return to the country, Mr Jamali said "he would be handled properly", but expressed the hope that the PML-N president would not come to Pakistan.
Mr Jamali said he had discussed with Chaudhry Shujaat the agenda for the meeting convened on Sunday to discuss the merger of various PML factions. He welcomed a decision of the National Alliance to merge with the PML.
Chaudhry Shujaat said he had sought explanation from Mr Wasti to explain as to why he had issued the statement against the prime minister and called for his (PM's) resignation.
Punjab Chief Minister Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi and Federal Health Minister Mohammad Nasir Khan, who is a distant relative of the Chaudhrys, were present at the meeting between Mr Jamali and Chaudhry Shujaat.
SHUJAAT MEETS LEGHARI: Earlier, Chaudhry Shujaat visited the residence of National Alliance chief Sardar Farooq Ahmed Leghari and welcomed his decision to merge the alliance with the PML.
After the meeting, both the leaders went to the residence of Food and Agriculture Minister Yar Mohammad Rind for lunch. Information Technology Minister Awais Leghari, MNA Sumera Malik and Senator Mohammad Ali Durrani were also present.
Answering a question about his chances of becoming the prime minister, Mr Leghari said there was no possibility of mid-term polls as the Jamali government was stable and strong. However, he said, there would be local government elections next year.
About his differences with Ghulam Mustafa Jatoi over the merger issue, he said Mr Jatoi had actually announced that he was retiring from practical politics. Mr Leghari said the representatives of Mr Jatoi had endorsed the decision to merge the alliance with the PML.
He denied that the merger was taking place on the directives of the GHQ.
|
|