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ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani received plaudits for his appearance before the Supreme Court on Thursday at a dinner hosted by President Asif Ali Zardari for parliamentarians of the coalition parties.
Talking to Dawn, presidential spokesman Farhatullah Babar said President Zardari and the heads of all coalition partners had felicitated the prime minister for appearing before the court in a “dignified and respectful manner”.
National Assembly Speaker Dr Fehmida Mirza was also present on the occasion.
“We have done a lot and will continue to do much more for welfare of the people, especially the poor and marginalised,” Babar quoted President Zardari as having stated while recounting various achievements of the government.
ANP president Asfandyar Wali Khan, PML-Q leaders Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain and Chaudhry Pervez Elahi, MQM’s deputy parliamentary leader Haider Abbas Rizvi, Senator Kalsoom Parveen of the BNP-A and the leader of MNAs from the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (Fata), Munir Khan Orakzai, spoke on the occasion and assured the People’s Party of their support.
The meeting, according to Mr Babar, reposed full confidence in the government and leadership of President Zardari and Prime Minister Gilani.
It was attended by more than 100 MNAs.
The ANP chief said President Zardari had fulfilled all promises made with him at the time of forming the coalition government.
Despite the fact that MQM’s members did not accompany the prime minister to the court, Mr Rizvi said his party was behind the PPP and expressed the hope that “we will remain partners”.
The prime minister thanked the coalition leaders for their support for what he called the strength of democracy and for accompanying him to the court “as a token of esteem for judiciary and reinforcing the government’s commitment to ensuring rule of law and strengthening institutions”.
He said it was a historic and unprecedented occasion in the history of Pakistan where the chief executive of the country had submitted himself to the Supreme Court to uphold the law of the land.
The prime minister said a joint session of both houses of parliament would soon be called to discuss new terms of engagement in the “war against terror”.
He said the government biggest achievement was “stabilisation of economy”. “The government is aware of challenges faced by the country.”
Mr Gilani said the government was trying to overcome gas and electricity shortage and he had asked Finance Minister Abdul Hafeez Sheikh to step up efforts to overcome the power crisis.
Religious Affairs Minister Syed Khursheed Shah said the present parliament over the past four years had done “historic legislation”, citing the passage of 107 bills — over 80 per cent of them unanimously.
He said the passage of three bills unanimously this week belied the criticism that parliament was a rubber-stamp.
Ms Shah said the adoption of the National Commission for Women Bill by the National Assembly was another milestone.
The president’s daughter, Aseefa Bhutto Zardari, welcomed the parliamentarians to the presidency.
The president hosted a dinner for parliamentarians.
