In his historic speech in the National Assembly on Monday after being elected as the country’s 23rd prime minister, Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani ordered the administration to immediately release all detained judges who were put under house arrest on November 3, 2007 following imposition of emergency in the country.
“All detained judges should be released immediately, as my government believes in the supremacy of parliament, the rule of law and respect for the Constitution,” declared the newly-elected prime minister amid loud desk thumping in the House, and slogans from the visitors’ galleries. As he ordered the release of detained judges the galleries reverberated with slogans of ‘Go Musharraf Go’.
Spelling out the immediate agenda of his government, he urged the National Assembly to adopt a resolution seeking UN probe into the assassination of Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto. Gilani also asked parliament to pass a resolution condemning the “judicial murder” of Zulfikar Ali Bhutto.
“The National Assembly will adopt a resolution seeking UN probe into the circumstances resulting in the assassination of Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto on Dec 27,” he remarked. Gilani assured the House of implementing the historic Murree Declaration signed by PPP Co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari and PML-N Quaid Mian Muhammad Nawaz Sharif and the Charter of Democracy.
“We didn’t get here out of charity. This moment came because of continued struggle and martyrdom and we will not waste this opportunity,” Gilani said. “We firmly believe in the freedom of the press as it has an important role in strengthening the democratic institutions in the country,” he said.
He said the first 100 days agenda of his government would be announced after his securing the vote of confidence. He said the agenda would address issues like price hike, load-shedding, poverty, unemployment, etc.
“We will prove that we are servant of the people and not their masters. We will serve them and make them feel that we are here to ensure that they have all those facilities they have been aspiring for,” he said.
He held out an assurance that the coalition government of the Pakistan Democratic Alliance, as the coalition would be known, would strengthen the institutions; ensure supremacy of parliament and the Constitution, the rule of law, independence of the judiciary and freedom of the media.
The prime minister-elect said the PDA government would protect institutions and uphold the 1973 Constitution. He said having spent many years in the opposition we are fully aware of the role of the opposition. He declared that the treasury would welcome positive criticism and there would be no compromise on the opposition’s self-respect, dignity and honour.
Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani thanked the people and political parties that voted in his favour. The prime minister-elect also referred to the supreme sacrifices rendered by Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto, other political leaders and workers and said democracy has been restored because of their sacrifices and struggle.
He said this is an historic moment and we must not lose this opportunity, and should work together to promote democratic ideals. He thanked the Pakistan Democratic Alliance (PDA) including the PML-N, the ANP, the JUI-F as well as the MQM and independent candidates and those from Fata who reposed confidence in him for the office of the prime minister.
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