Islamabad, 06 January 2012: President Asif Ali Zardari has said that he saw no threat to democracy but no matter what happened the PPP will not disappoint the nation and the people will find us fully prepared to face any eventuality with courage and determination.

 

This he said chairing a meeting of Senators and MNAs of PPP here at Aiwan-e-Sadr Friday night. Prime Minister Syed Yousaf Raza Gillani was also present.

 

Briefing about the meeting Spokesperson to the President Mr. Farhatullah Babar said that the meeting renewed the Party’s commitment to strengthen democracy and the democratic institutions in the country and to continue to resisting any attempt that sought to undermine democracy and civil institutions.

 

The President said that we are aware of our obligation to fulfil our commitments with the people who have never been heard and would take all measures that promise to fulfil the aspirations of people of the country.

 

The President said that the Party has initiated a consultative process with its political partners and allies on matters of creation of new provinces as well as Senate elections. He said that appropriate legislative measures would soon be undertaken for creation of Seraiki province in consultation with coalition partners.

 

The President had already held a consultative meeting with Parliamentary leaders of allies parties today, the Spokesperson Mr. Farhatullah Babar said.

 

He said that the Government has decided to hold by-elections to all the vacant seats at the earliest completing the Constitutional requirements in this regard.

 

The Prime Minister while addressing the participants said that our decision to support a private-member bill which makes it binding upon all the public servants to declare their assets as the parliamentarians do was a major step to ensure across the board accountability of all. However, efforts made in this regard in the past were foiled on tenuous ground, he said.

 

He said that declaration and publication of assets of all those drawing salary from public exchequer was a historical step that will be pursued to its logical conclusion and any attempt to subvert it will be exposed and resisted.

 

The Prime Minister said that the Government has also lifted ban on Government jobs.

 

The President said that the leadership was aware of the challenges facing the country and that is why it has decided to hold dialogue with all the political parties and leaders for strengthening democracy in the country and to take the country out of the present challenges.

 

Discussing power and energy crisis, the President said that power and energy challenges were amongst the greatest challenges that continue to haunt the people of the country and the Government was taking all possible measures to address these issues.

 

The Prime Minister recounted various decisions taken during the recent Cabinet meeting to address power and energy crisis. He said that funds for Thar Coal project have been released and expressed the hope that the Government would overcome the power crises.

 

The President called upon all the Parliamentarians to reach out to the people and hold rallies and public gatherings at divisional levels.  

 

Later, the parliamentarians of the Party spoke on various political issues facing the country.

 

Ms. Farzana Raja also gave a run down of the progress made by Benazir Income Support Program.