ISLAMABAD June 25: Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz has said a summary for nomination of Council of Common Interest (CCI) members has been sent for the president’s approval.
He said this while talking to a group of newsmen at the prime minister’s house here on Sunday.
Mr Aziz said the CCI will be constituted within the next few days as the summary sent to the president will hopefully be received by Monday which will be followed by issuance of an official notification.
He said the government will honour the Supreme Court verdict in the Pakistan Steel Mills case and ensure its implementation.
He said a good aspect of the apex court verdict was that it had upheld the privatisation law, adding we will continue the privatisation process under the said law in a transparent manner.
He rejected the opposition’s criticism of the privatisation policy and said that the policy was continued even during the tenures in power of Benazir Bhutto and Nawaz Sharif, and we are also implementing it in a transparent way.
When asked about the fallout of the Supreme Court verdict stopping Pakistan Steel Mills privatisation and the opposition’s demand from Awais Leghari to resign, the prime minister said the opposition always puts up such demands.
Referring to the opposition’s criticism and demands of revision of the privatisation deal of the Habib Bank, the premier said its implementation was already complete.
Responding to a query, he said that there was no reason for a separation and the PML would contest the next elections along with its coalition parties.
To a query, he said the government always remained in contact with opposition parties and both talked to each other from time to time on various issues.
He said the government was determined not to compromise on the sovereignty of the country and was ready to offer whatever sacrifices were needed for the security of the country.
Disagreeing with the opposition’s tirade against President Pervez Musharraf and the armed forces, Mr Aziz said the country had attained a status of self-respect, including that of being a prestigious nation, due to the president’s policies.
In reply to a question regarding the ongoing Pak-India negotiations process, he said both countries were pursuing composite dialogue in various areas, including Kashmir, Sir Creek and other issues of bilateral cooperation.
Pakistan, he reiterated, desired peaceful settlement of all disputes and for this purpose both the countries’ leadership will have to demonstrate flexibility, sincerity and courage.
He said Pakistan was ready for a settlement on Kashmir and had forwarded a number of constructive proposals on the issue.
When asked about the recent stock exchange crash, the prime minister said the Security Exchange Commission Committee report had already been completed and the reforms initiated by the government were setting things right.
He dismissed demands for the removal of the Sindh government and provincial governor as baseless, saying that the government was formed strictly in accordance with democratic norms and the appointment of governor had also taken place according to the constitution.
About Maulana Fazlur Rahman’s demand of doing away with the condition of graduation for candidates for the next election, he said the matter will be considered on the basis of having been provided complete details.
To a question about the present assemblies re-electing the president for the next term, Mr Aziz declared in unequivocal terms that everything would be done in accordance with the constitution.
In response to the latest opposition threat of launching a movement in September, the prime minister said if we recount the last four years or so it will be seen that many such threats have been issued by the opposition but the actual verdict will be given by the masses. The opposition, he asserted, should also realise that negative politics will never benefit it.
He said the people of the country will never like to see the country sinking again in darkness, meaning spreading its begging bowl in front of the first world countries.
He said any decision about a change in the system will usher from the results of the next elections.
Referring to Pakistan-US negotiations starting in Washington from Monday, the prime minister said Pakistan’s comprehensive energy needs will be discussed during these parleys.
He said Pakistan will seek energy to meet its growing requirements from wherever possible and if the US will discuss nuclear energy in these talks we will also do the same but if it is unwilling to discuss it we will follow suit.
He said our stand is that seeking nuclear energy for peaceful purposes is our right and we can meet our energy needs from anywhere.
