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Governor’s rule comes to an end

* Zardari says PPP will support PML-N candidate for Punjab chief minister
* Calls for multipartisan committee to propose amendments to abolish Article 58(2b), implement CoD

By Zulfiqar Ghuman

ISLAMABAD: President Asif Ali Zardari recommended to the prime minister to lift governor’s rule in Punjab in his address to a joint sitting of the parliament on Saturday, and offered his party’s support to the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) candidate for chief minister.

“As we move towards a better future, I wish to announce that we shall recommend the lifting of governor’s rule in Punjab,” the president said in his keynote address to mark the beginning of the new parliamentary year.

He announced his party’s support for the PML-N’s candidate for Punjab chief minister. “The PPP will sit in the opposition and will participate in the legislative process and will not bring down the provincial government of Punjab. We will bring to an end horse-trading,” he said.

“Let not democracy be derailed for any reasons through street demonstrations. Pakistan has many challenges... Let’s put an end to challenging each other. Let us become friends once again and forever,” he said. Zardari urged the National Assembly speaker to form an all-parties committee to propose amendments in the constitution in line with the Charter of Democracy. “The amendments should be finalised without any further delay,” he said.

The president repeated his government’s commitment not to let Pakistani soil be used for terrorist activities, or any violation of the country’s sovereignty. “We are fighting militancy and extremism for our own sake. We will continue to do so for the sake of our children,” he said.

Zardari called US President Barack Obama’s new policy for the region “a positive change”.

The president called for the formation of another parliamentary committee to recommend measures to address the problems of the people of Balochistan. “An enabling environment needs to be created to facilitate the return and rehabilitation of displaced persons in Balochistan who fled their homes recently. Ways and means may be explored for the voluntary return of exiles and grant of general amnesty to the political prisoners. These are issues which need to be discussed in the parliament,” he said. “Give them the autonomy they have been demanding for 60 years.”

Zardari praised Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani for making “difficult decisions” after he assumed office amidst an energy crisis, an ailing economy, the judicial crisis and the ongoing war on terror. “The reforms programme has started showing positive results,” he said.

Key points of presidential address

* PPP will sit in opposition in Punjab

* Autonomy, repatriation, amnesty, return of exiles for Balochistan

* US review of policy on Afghanistan and Pakistan a ‘positive change’

* Inflation will be brought down to single digit by next year

* $30 billion spending in power sector by 2016

* Benazir assassination probe likely to complete in six months

* Relief to 3.5 million families through Benazir Income Support Programme

* Accountability law to replace NAB Ordinance on cards

* Government to set up ‘journalist victims fund’

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