LAHORE, Sept 22: Participants in a convention of the PML-Q office-bearers and district and tehsil Nazims here on Monday urged opposition parties to give up their negative attitude and instead hold talks with the government to settle controversial issues.
Through a resolution, they appreciated the constitutional package, urging opposition parties to be flexible in their approach for the sake of an agreement. Parties opposed to the government were advised not to go by dictation from their leaders abroad.
Chief Minister Pervaiz Elahi presided over the convention in which provincial ministers were also present.
The participants expressed concern over water shortage and underlined the need for the construction of more reservoirs on a priority basis. Expressing solidarity with other provinces, the resolution assured that the Punjab would continue to play the role of elder brother.
Another resolution acknowledged the importance of President Musharraf’s visit to the United Nations and his planned address to the General Assembly. It said the president should give Pakistan’s point of view on Kashmir in unambiguous terms and call upon the world community to play their role in bringing an end to Indian and Israeli atrocities in held Kashmir and Palestine, respectively.
Shujaat Husain was congratulated on assuming the chairmanship of unified PML, while the prime minister and leaders of other factions were praised for uniting the party.
A resolution congratulated the chief minister for taking important steps in the fields of health, education and agriculture. His plan to give lands to landless peasants and homeless was also praised.
In his address on the occasion, the chief minister said the party reorganization would be started next month. For this purpose, he said, ministers and advisers would visit districts and prepare recommendations in consultation with workers. He said committed workers and those showing good performance should be accommodated at the time of reorganization. He said he valued the party workers, and for him their status was no less than that of an MNA, MPA or a Nazim.
Referring to the district government system, Pervaiz Elahi said there was a room for improvement in every new system and the same held true for this system. He assured the Nazims that the government would continue to extend them full cooperation. He said the Nazims should take party leaders and workers along.
The chief minister said he wanted the Nazims to work without the fear of facing no-trust motions.
He said a separate marketing department was being set up for the sale of agricultural commodities.
He said the Asian Development Bank was pleased with the performance of the government because of which it had approved an assistance of $1 billion for the province.
About the importance of southern Punjab, he said it was undermined in the past. The present government was setting up a hospital for heart diseases and a burn unit there.
Many of the speakers appreciated the working of the chief minister.
Senator Kamil Ali Agha and Agriculture Minister Arshad Khan Lodhi were also among the speakers.