KARACHI - Prime Minister Raja Pervaiz Ashraf has said that peace in
Karachi was a government priority and vowed to solve all other problems
with the help of allies.
The prime minister was speaking to the
media following his visit to MQM headquarters Nine Zero and his meeting
with Pir Pagara at Kingri House on Monday where he thanked them for the
support in his election.
Raja reiterated that parliament was
supreme and the major problems facing the country were the energy crisis
and law and order that he hoped would be solved soon.
“The
parliament is the mother of all institutions a
nd if all state
institutions continue to work within their ambit, there will be no
instability in the country,” the prime minister said.
Raja added
that he would continue his predecessor Yousuf Raza Gilani’s policies
formulated in consultation with the allies. To a question about his
future, he said “I am here till Allah’s will and wish of the PPP and the
allied parties. I got the coveted post because it is Allah’s will and I
will stay here till He wills so.” Raja Pervaiz Ashraf said he would do
his best to follow the vision of Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, Benazir Bhutto and
President Asif Ali Zardari and would take along all the allied parties
to serve the masses. “We believe in love for all and hatred for none.“
About
the last night attack by Afghan militants in Upper Dir that led to the
killing of several Pakistani security personnel, he said the government
had strongly protested and he would also talk to Afghan President Hamid
Karzai about the incident.
The PM was welcomed by large gathering
of MQM’s workers at Nine Zero, flowers petals were showered on the PM
and slogans were raised in the favor of the PM.
MQM chief Altaf
Hussain, speaking over the telephone during Raja’s visit to Nine Zero,
welcomed the new prime minister. He said he was happy that Pervaiz
Ashraf was not born with a ‘silver spoon’ but was “also a worker (like
him). This has happened for the first time in Pakistan that a worker has
become a prime minister”.
Defending Raja Pervaiz Ashraf’s tenure
as the power minister, Altaf said that Raja was misguided and misled by
others but all the blame was put on him. He hoped that the new PM had
learnt from past mistakes and in his six months in power, he will put
all his capabilities to good use. “He will take such courageous
decisions that people won’t have any reservations, but they will rather
appreciate him later.”
He asked the prime minister to work for the
country and not just his party. He advised him to initiate talks in
Balochistan to address the law and order situation. “I also want to
advise those sitting in the mountains of Balochistan to prepare for
talks as this will be beneficial for you as well as the country”.
After
seeking permission from the prime minister to go off-topic, Altaf said
he would like to ask famous astrologist ‘Mamu’ to explain the strange
coincidence of coming into power of people who share their names. First
it was former president Pervez Musharraf, then the current Chief of Army
Staff Ashfaq Pervez Kayani and now the newly elected Prime Minister
Raja Pervez Ashraf, noted Altaf.
Altaf said President Zardari had
experienced a tough time during his four and a half years in office and
anyone else in his place would have lost hope. “With patience, he
accepted all Supreme Court orders. His prime minister, Gilani was
disqualified, and with a heavy heart he removed former ambassador to US
Husain Haqqani. The Supreme Court also suspended his wife’s membership.
Rehman Malik was also suspended from his Senate seat. But the president
maintained patience.”
“By accepting Gilani’s disqualification, the
president had avoided confrontation,” the MQM chief said, adding that
army, judiciary and parliament should work within their ambits. “The
trend of institutions working outside their jurisdiction is dangerous,”
Altaf said. He stressed that individuals who looted the nation should be
boycotted, saying this could only happen if democracy is not derailed.
He appealed to the opposition not to engage in anti-democracy politics.
Altaf
called upon the opposition to join hands with the ruling parties to
steer the country out of the crisis. On the issue of National
Reconciliation Ordinance (NRO), Altaf Hussain invited all opposition
parties to gather at one place and have a debate with him on the issue.
“If they beat me over it, I’ll leave politics forever,” he challenged.
He added that those holding dual nationalities help in strengthening the
country’s economy.
During Raja’s visit, MQM central leader Farooq
Sattar said that holding of transparent general election is necessary
to strengthen democracy in the country. The PM held a meeting with Rabta
committee of MQM and discussed the law and order situation of the city.
The
PM assured the MQM that the federal government would take every
possible measure to bring peace in Karachi, adding that the centre was
ready to work with MQM to restore peace in the city.
Earlier, the
PM also visited Kingri House to meet the PML-F chief Pir Sahib Pagara on
Monday to personally thank the spiritual leader of Hur Jamaat for his
support in his election as prime minister. Sindh Chief Minister Qaim Ali
Shah, Governor Dr Ishratul Ebad Khan and Senior Interior Advisor Rehman
Malik accompanied the PM to Kingri House and MQM headquarter.
The
prime minister and Pir Pagara agreed to sustain the ongoing
reconciliatory policy in the interest of country and Sindh. Pir Pagara
said he would continue alliance of his party with the government which
was agreed by his father.