LAHORE, Jan 20: Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani said here on Friday that the problems of energy shortage would be solved in six months.

Speaking to media personnel after attending the ninth convocation of the Lahore College for Women University, he said his government had already added 3,334 megawatts to the national grid and was also trying to resolve the gas supply issue.

The prime minister said a joint session of both houses of parliament would decide about reopening the Nato supply routes, adding that the government would not follow the dictates of any other country or person.

He said his government was acting independently whereas 'dictator Gen Musharraf had accepted all demands on the call from a (US) deputy secretary' Those who were out of the government, he said, were criticising it but whenever they had been in power in thepast their performance had been worse.

He said all dictators had promised to bring prices down and root out corruption but their rule increased corruption and people's hardship.

'Now they have no chance to return to power.

In reply to a question about opposition's call to end confrontation with the judiciary, he said: 'What they did when they were in the government? The opposition always tried to embarrass the government but the treasury showed magnanimity. They are doing their part and we are doing ours.

The premier said his appearance in the Supreme Court had shown that the government respected the judiciary and wanted to strengthen all institutions.

He said every institution must work within the ambit of the Constitution.

'We have strengthened the state organs by restoring the Constitution.