September 03, 2008	Wednesday	Ramazan 2, 1429

LAHORE, Sept 2: Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani on Tuesday sought to quash speculations that the Pakistan People’s Party and the Pakistan Muslim League-N were trying to destabilise each other’s governments in Punjab and the centre.

“We -- the PPP and the PML-N -- have travelled a long distance to reach where we are today and have suffered imprisonment and exile. Our leader Benazir Bhutto lost her life in the journey for democracy. People have a lot of expectations from us. We will attempt to fulfil those expectations and try not to destabilise each other,” Mr Gilani told reporters on his arrival here from Islamabad.

He was received at the airport by Punjab Governor Salmaan Taseer and Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif.

Mr Gilani said the PPP had never accepted the 17th Amendment and the presidential powers under Article 58(2)b and promised that a balance would be struck between the powers of the president and parliament.

“The PML-N has left the coalition because of its principled stand on the issue of reinstatement of the judges. We will invite it to rejoin the government after the reinstatement of the judges,” the prime minister said in reply to a question.

Mr Gilani dismissed as inconsequential reports that the National Accountability Bureau had sought permission to re-open cases against PML-N chief Mian Nawaz Sharif.

Replying to a question, he said it was for the central executive committee of the PPP to decide whether Mr Zardari would continue as the party’s co-chairman after his election as president.

“In my personal opinion, the president symbolises the federation and he should be an impartial and neutral person,” Mr Gilani said.