July 25, 2008	Friday	Rajab 21, 1429

LAHORE, July 24: In a clear-cut message to the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz, Governor Salmaan Taseer said on Thursday one should assume responsibility of unpopular decisions on national affairs like security and inflation instead of just enjoying power.

“It’s very easy to enjoy power and avoid unpopular decisions. Those who think that the worsening situation will lead to fresh elections are mistaken because rolling back of the present system will not benefit anyone,” he said while talking to reporters at the Governor’s House.

When asked whether he was giving caution to the PML-N, the governor said he was addressing everyone. “But the PML-N should also join the federal government, if it is heading the Punjab government.”

He said there should be a consensus on security and economic issues of Pakistan. “Political games continue in every country, but on these issues we should move together.” He warned against any ‘political mischief’ in the food stamp schemes because “this would simply spoil the subsidy programme”.

“On the same pattern, Benazir cards will be given to those already enlisted by the Baitul Maal. And any impartiality in making lists for the provincial food stamp schemes will spoil them,” he said.

He said it was wrong if the Punjab government was pressuring the local councils by adopting unconstitutional means. The leader of the opposition should be notified in Punjab without any further delay, he said. “Will the military tolerate political opponents, if they are not tolerated by political parties?” he asked.

He ruled out the possibility of imposition of governor’s rule in Punjab, and said his meeting with President Musharraf and Mr Asif Ali Zardari was not a conspiracy against anyone.

He said the PML-N was not the sole ruling party in Punjab. Instead it was a senior partner of the ruling alliance. “It’s not a reminder to the party. It’s a simple reality,” he said.

The governor said the PPP wanted continuation of the coalition government and the present democratic system because this was the need of the hour. It had announced in the very beginning that it would make the PML-N a senior partner in the Punjab government and kept its word.

“We could sabotage the arrangement in the very beginning in Punjab and the NWFP. But we did not do so and even kept the MQM with us despite having differences with it in the past,” he said.

The PPP, according to the governor, went an extra mile to accommodate the PML-N in Punjab. “I took oath from Mr Shahbaz Sharif without wasting any time despite the filing of an objection against his election. I would not have accepted the resignation of Mr Dost Khosa, if I had any ill will against Mr Sharif.”He said he wanted to make it clear that the PPP believed in democracy and it would continue to fully support the PML-N. “People time and again accuse me (of foul play), but the reality is that I have gone a hundred extra miles to support the PML-N,” he said.

He said the present system could be discarded in three ways -- dismissal of the assembly by the president, or on the advice of the prime minister, and/or through an extra-constitutional step. “The first two options are not viable, and the third will destroy everyone. Therefore, it is in the interest of political forces to show flexibility, stop seeking petty gains, and look at the bigger picture,” was what the governor advised.

He said the PPP would not allow destabilisation of the country, internally and externally. Instead of shifting responsibility (like others), it owned trouble at borders and inflation. “People are annoyed with us, but who will run the country in this difficult hour.”

The governor said the surveys being published to indicate political personages’ popularity were bogus, rejecting the allegations that the government has failed to deliver in its first three months in power.

“Political parties are elected for five years, and their popularity is checked at the expiry of this term. They take difficult decisions at the outset and have time to benefit people afterwards. We will also do the same,” he said.

Replying to questions, the governor said parliament could remove the president if it wanted to do so. He had nothing to do with the impeachment or the continuation of the president, he said.

He said if the PML-N’s claim of getting people’s vote on the issue of restoration of judges was true, then it must be kept in mind that it claimed 22 per cent of the total votes. People voted only for their betterment. The PPP wanted restoration of democracy and independence of the judiciary was directly linked to it, Mr Taseer said.

He denied the allegation that the PPP was planning to abandon the PML-N and form its government in Punjab in league with the PML-Q, linking this to a recent reported meeting between Mr Zardari and Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi. “This is baseless,” he said.

The governor supported the local government system and said it was a part of the Constitution. He said the system had some shortcomings, but its concept was good. The local governments should be allowed to complete their terms, he said, stressing that the next elections should be held on a party basis.

Referring to recent statements of Pervaiz Elahi regarding the wrapping up of the present system, Governor Taseer said any attempt to do so would prove disastrous for the country. Nothing of the sort would happen, he said with an advice to Pervaiz Elahi to talk of his role as an opposition leader.