LAHORE, Oct 28: Admitting that the National Reconciliation Ordinance (NRO) had not helped create the desired harmonious atmosphere because of the “negative and intolerant attitude” of Ms Benazir Bhutto, Information Minister Muhammad Ali Durrani said here on Sunday the government would not take back the legislation as the matter was now pending with the Supreme Court.

Answering a question at a news conference at his residence, he hoped the PPP would reciprocate the government’s gesture and avoid levelling `baseless’ allegations against the ruling party leaders. “I’ll advise her to avoid confrontation”.

Durrani said the government had informed the PPP chairperson about the security threats before her return to Pakistan. He said when the blasts had taken place, the former prime minister should have sympathised with the party workers and leaders and the families of the victims who had lost their lives. But, regrettably, she chose to use all her energies on pinning the blame on various leaders, ignoring the negative impact of such a step on the political atmosphere.

Asked how would it be possible for the government to hold elections on time in areas in the NWFP where terrorist activities were beyond control, the minister hoped that the situation would normalise as a result of the additional security measures to be taken during the next few months. He believed that the polls would be held on time across the country and the government would not delay the process on any ground.

He pointed out that the federal government was aware of the deteriorating law and order situation in the NWFP and Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz had written at least two letters to the chief minister urging him to take necessary corrective steps.

He said terrorism posed a serious challenge to the government and the authorities were determined to uproot it along with its root causes. Poverty, he said, was an important factor which motivated people to indulge in terrorist activities, but, he claimed, as a result of steps taken by the government over the past five years the number of people living below poverty line had dropped considerably.

He held some opposition leaders responsible for the growing disparity between the rich and the poor.

Durrani reiterated the government’s resolve to call an all-party conference to address the issue of terrorism and devise a strategy in consultation with all parties to stem it.

The minister said Ms Benazir Bhutto and Mian Nawaz Sharif had remained in power for about five years each during their two stints and this was equal to the tenure of the current PML government.

According to him, the government was preparing a whitepaper on the performance of all three parties and it would be released to the media to enable the people to make their own judgments on which party did how much for them. —Correspondent