April 02, 2008	Wednesday	Rabi-ul-Awwal 24, 1429

ISLAMABAD, April 1: Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani has said that the Constitution of 1973 is the binding force keeping the federation intact.

“We have to adhere to the Constitution if we want to strengthen the country,” the prime minister said here on Tuesday at a ceremony held to launch a documentary film on the life and achievements of the founder of Pakistan People’s Party, Zulfikar Ali Bhutto.

He said the PPP and the Constitution were two things that had kept the country intact.

The 1973 Constitution was still a workable and accepted document, he said. He called for allegiance to the Constitution for the progress of the country. “When we talk about the constitution, system and law, we talk about the federation.”

He said the political philosophy of Z.A. Bhutto, and of Benazir Bhutto, was rebellion against the outdated system and he was determined to change the system.

The prime minister said he and his cabinet enjoyed the support of the PPP and other parties and he would remain in power as long as he felt he was performing well. He said he would quit if he failed.

He said the coalition had a limited mandate and he was determined to take the member parties along to provide the best service to the people.

About the government’s 100-day programme, he said he had asked the ministers to take stock of their ministries, prepare reports within a week and seek people’s guidance.

The prime minister said he would not like to be called ‘Makhdoom’ because he was a servant of the people and he would like to be called only Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani.

“We will remain in power to serve the people, otherwise we won’t rule the country,” he said.

He said his nomination as the prime minister was a proof of PPP’s democratic credentials. The PPP had given preference to federalism by nominating him from Punjab, he said.

“I along with my cabinet will try to come up to the expectations of our leaders and will remain in power as long as we deliver and take the nation forward,” he said.

He said the media should serve as ‘the opposition’ by pinpointing his government’s mistakes. He said the government was committed to the freedom of the media.

He said Z.A. Bhutto stood for rebellion against an outdated system and “we also have a mission of strengthening the people by changing the system. We rebel against the system which names us as Makhdoom.”

Minister for Water and Power Raja Pervaiz Ashraf, Dr Azra Fazal Pecheho and former defence minister Aftab Shaban Mirani also spoke on the occasion.