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NRO buried forever: PM

* Gilani says Article 58(2b) of no use in presence of active judiciary
* Won’t take long to root out terrorists
* Launches 200MW power project in Pattoki

By Nauman Tasleem

PATTOKI: The National Reconciliation Ordinance (NRO) has been “buried forever”, Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani said on Saturday.

Talking to reporters at the inauguration of Nishat Power Plant in Jamber, the prime minister said the NRO was no longer “an issue”.

Gilani said the current political system was stable and the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) wanted to take all political parties on board.

Judiciary: Asked to comment on the government’s intentions to abolish Article 58(2b), he said it was “irrelevant” in the presence of an active judiciary.

“It [Article 58(2b)] is of no use today,” Prime Minister Gilani said. On whether Pakistan would raise the issue of evidence of Indian involvement in Balochistan, he said the matter could be discussed once Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh came to the negotiation table.

He said Pakistan believed in maintaining friendly relations with all its neighbours, including India, on the basis of equality.

Fight: Asked about the timeframe of the ongoing military operation in South Waziristan, the prime minister said, “In view of the nation’s high spirits, it will not take long to fight out the terrorists.”

Power project: Launching the $234 million power project, which would generate 200 megawatts of electricity, Gilani said the government was working to meet the current shortfall of 3,500 megawatts of electricity.

Prime Minister Gilani said increasing energy production in the country was on top of the government’s agenda, adding that measures were being taken to exploit all available natural resources for the purpose.

The prime minister said the government was focussing on medium- to long-term plans to generate more electricity and enhance industrialisation in the country, adding that the government was exploring all available options for the generation of more electricity.

Stressing the role of the private sector in power generation, he said it could play a vital role in increasing its electricity output in the country.

Gilani, however, said that a peaceful political environment was imperative for the economy to improve.

The prime minister said no country could work in isolation and Pakistan desires good commercial relations with all countries. He said Pakistan was also pursuing economic interests aimed at catalysing trade ventures in its foreign policy.

“We believe in private sector resource mobilisation as was evident in the 1994 power policy and the successive policies revolving around it.” He said the government was pursuing policies to attract foreign investment and providing an investor-friendly environment.

Punjab Governor Salmaan Taseer, Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif, Minister for Water and Power Raja Pervaiz Ashraf, Minister for Industries Manzoor Wattoo and Nishat Group Chairman Mian Muhammad Mansha were also present.

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