LAHORE, March 9: Punjab Chief Minister Pervaiz Elahi has urged the opposition not to agitate the issue of the Legal Framework Order and play its due role for the resolution of the people’s problems.

Talking to MNAs and MPAs here on Sunday, he stressed the need for complete unity between the government and the opposition for the sake of the continuity of the democratic process in the country and in view of the critical international situation.

The chief minister said all political parties had contested the elections under the LFO. They had also signed their nomination papers under the same order.

He said the women seats in the assemblies were increased and the rights of minorities protected under the same LFO.

The chief minister said Gen Pervez Musharraf was the first army ruler who conducted elections within the timeframe given for the purpose and peacefully transferred power to the elected representatives of people. He also saved the country from external threats and restored the supremacy of parliament.

Kasuri: Foreign Minister Khurshid Kasuri discussed with Punjab Chief Minister Pervaiz Elahi geo-political situation, at a meeting on Sunday.

Mr Kasuri explained to the chief minister details of his recent visit to the US. He said during his meetings with the US officials he ensured that no peace-loving and law-abiding Pakistani faced any problem there.

The foreign minister asked the chief minister to ensure speedy construction of Lahore-Kasur and Usmanwala-Kanganpur roads, and provision of Sui gas to Kasur.

He said early construction of the roads and provision of gas would leave a positive impact on the economic development of the people of the bordering city.

He said the Punjab government’s education policy would help improve literacy rate in the province and bring about basic changes in the education sector.

He said that the government would take any decision on the Iraq issue in the best interests of the country.

The foreign minister said the interest of the country was supreme and any decision on the issue would be taken while keeping it above all considerations.

“We would not take any step detrimental to the interest of the country,” he was quoted as having said.

The chief minister said the PML-Q was clear on the LFO issue and considered it the main force in the revival of democracy and peaceful transfer of power from a military set up to an elected government.

He said the Punjab government was providing equal development opportunities to all the cities and towns. The government was implementing a comprehensive economic-revival policy that would improve the living standard of common man.

The chief minister informed the foreign minister about the provincial government’s policies in the health, education, agriculture, housing and other sectors.

Meanwhile, Mr Kasuri and Pervaiz Elahi visited the Kot Lakhpat residence of Lahore MPA Chaudhry Muhammad Asghar to offer condolences over the death of his father Chaudhry Muhammad Yousaf.

They also visited the residence of Makhdoom Ruknuddin, who is the father of MNA Khusro Bakhtiar, and offered condolences over the death of his father-in-law.