KARACHI, June 24: Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf has said the government does not want a confrontation with any institution because it is not in the interest of the country.

Talking to newsmen after visiting the mausoleum of the Quaid-i-Azam and laying a wreath here on Sunday, he said: “We will promote the politics of reconciliation and problems will be solved through consultation.”

He said strict action would be taken against elements creating law and order problems in Karachi.

The prime minister said the PPP and its allies were determined to promote politics of reconciliation. This was the vision of great leader Benazir Bhutto and President Asif Ali Zardari has been moving forward with it.

Replying to a question, he said the government would perform every task in accordance with the Constitution and law.

He said the energy crisis and law and order problems in Karachi were a challenge for the government.

“We are fully aware of the significance of Karachi,” he said.

Mr Ashraf said he attended his first meeting as prime minister on Saturday and it was on energy. The government has started working on it and wants people to see that work is being done in this area.

He said Adviser on Interior Rehman Malik had given him a briefing on law and order in Karachi. It was attended by Sindh Governor Ishratul Ibad Khan and Chief Minister Qaim Ali Shah. He said everyone believed that the law and order issues would be resolved.

He said a functioning parliament and democracy were key to solving all problems. The prime minister said the government had decided to ensure that the next elections would be free, fair and transparent.

Free, fair and transparent elections, and not anarchy, were in the interest of all political parties.

About reopening of Nato supply routes, the prime minister said that parliament was supreme and a decision would be taken by the government on the basis of the direction given by parliament.

He said the government wanted to maintain good relations with the United States and other countries on the basis of equality, honour and dignity and “we will continue to follow this policy”.

Earlier, the prime minister presided over a meeting at the Governor’s House to review the energy situation in the country and took important decisions to take immediate steps to reduce loadshedding.

The governor and the chief minister told the prime minister that they would hold talks with all stakeholders and seek their cooperation for increasing electricity generation for which gas would be provided from Sindh to the power sector.

They assured him that the province would fully support the efforts of the federal government to reduce loadshedding across the country as soon as possible.

Federal Minister for Petroleum Dr Asim Hussain informed the prime minister that the Faisalabad power plant had started its operations in accordance of a decision taken in Saturday’s meeting at the PM House. It will produce 65 MW per day.

The meeting was attended also by federal ministers Qamar Zaman Kaira, Syed Khurshid Ahmed Shah, Syed Naveed Qamar, Manzoor Ahmed Wattoo and Nazar Mohammad Gondal, adds APP.