August 26, 2007	Sunday	Sha’aban 12, 1428

KARACHI, Aug 25: Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz has said that the government, the legislature and the judiciary are playing their respective roles.

Addressing editors and journalists at the Governor’s House here on Saturday, he said: “The government is functioning, the legislature is functioning, the judiciary is functioning”, adding that there was no overlap.

Expressing utmost respect for the judiciary, he said the presidential election would be held in accordance with the law and the Constitution and in line with the Election Commission’s guidelines.

Hoping that the ruling PML and allied parties’ would secure a comfortable majority in upcoming polls, he said the presidential election was expected between September 15 and October 15, adding that its schedule would soon be announced by the Election Commission.

He said the ruling PML and allied parties enjoyed a majority in the presidential electoral college, comprising the Senate, the National Assembly and provincial assemblies.

Ruling out the possibility of the ruling PML making seat adjustments with any party, the prime minister said that the government believed in parliament’s supremacy.

Acknowledging contact with various political parties, he said that the objective of contacts was national reconciliation.In his opening statement, he said that the country was fully capable of defending its territorial integrity and the government had not sought anyone’s help, adding that there was no need for it.

Prime Minister Aziz said the government would never allow any other country’s armed forces to take action inside its territory.

Highlighting the importance of national nuclear assets, he said they guaranteed regional peace, adding that the assets were “in safe hands and well protected” because they were under a “robust command and control mechanism”.

The prime minister said that Pakistan was a responsible nuclear power and fully aware of its responsibilities.

Focusing on the quantum of development during the tenure of the present government, he said economic stability and foreign investment had helped the country make rapid progress.

Reiterating the government’s stress on continuity of policies, he said it was important for national progress.

Referring to development projects in Sindh, the prime minister said the province had most funds for development, adding that it was producing more natural gas than any other province. Two new explorations in Badin would further augment the province’s income.—APP