MULTAN, May 3: During his first visit to his hometown after becoming prime minister, Yusuf Raza Gilani addressed a public meeting here on Saturday and promised reinstatement of deposed judges, restoration of the 1973 Constitution, strengthening of state institutions and press freedom.

Mr Gilani was accompanied by Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi, who also hails from Multan.The two leaders were accorded a warm welcome on their arrival at the Multan airport by a large number of PPP workers.

The prime minister said he was well aware that southern Punjab had been neglected in the past and declared that he would stay in Multan for two days to announce development packages.

He said that democratic forces had been voted into power by the people to restore the Constitution and reinstate the judges.

He said the slogan of roti, kapra and makan was actually the manifesto of his party given by its founder Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and it was also the manifesto of Benazir Bhutto.

Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi said the former regime of Punjab did not want to see him and Gilani in the parliament but now they both were not only in parliament but were seated on higher posts due to the love and affection of the people of Multan.

Mr Qureshi said he was aware of the protest which was held in the city regarding hours-long loadshedding but all the responsibility lay on the former regime which had not taken steps to generate even single megawatt electricity during the period of eight-year.

Punjab Chief Minister Dost Mohammad Khosa, Governor Khalid

Maqbool and District Nazim Mian Faisal Mukhtar welcomed Mr Gilani and Mr Qureshi at the airport.