Only people have right to bring about political change; Gilani

CHARSADA, Oct 12 (APP): Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani Tuesday said his government would complete its five year term and only the people had the right to bring about any change.“We have come into power with the support of the people and not through back door corridors,” Gilani said at the launching ceremony of poverty survey in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Waseela-e-Rozgar program and distribution of Watan Card here.Gilani said, “It is not the prerogative of those who are sitting in drawing rooms to talk about change,” he said while strongly rejecting the statements by “some television critics” that a political change was in the air.“If we do good deeds, we will be re-elected or rejected like the previous government.”Gilani said “We rendered great sacrifices and have faced jail terms for the sake of democracy.”The Prime Minister said the political government was following the Constitution and urged all those who were outside the parliament to show political maturity.
He said if the politicians cannot deliver than no one else can. He said certain segments were trying to say things that were undoable and said democratic system was the country’s lifeline.
Gilani rejected those who said the parliament has achieved nothing significant and said it restored the 1973 Constitution and all legislation has been done through consensus.
He said Quaid-e-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah who created Pakistan was a politician, Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto the founder of country’s nuclear program and creator of 1973 Constitution and all those who restored it and gave the 7th NFC award, were all politicians.
Prime Minister Gilani said the democracy today was due to the supreme sacrifices of Shaheed Benazir Bhutto and paid tributes to the parliamentarians and their leaders for achieving consensus and taking along all political parties.
Gilani directed inclusion of health insurance scheme under the Benazir Income Support Program (BISP) to help the poor cope with high costs of medical treatment and said it would provide them much needed relief.
He said the people of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa had rendered great sacrifices for the sovereignty and security of Pakistan. He recalled the gesture of the people of the area for accommodating with open arms the Internally Displaced Persons of Swat and Malakand and the ongoing war against extremism and terrorism.
Gilani said he was pleased to note that complete transparency was being observed in the distribution of Watan Cards. He said the federal government, along with the provincial government were jointly working to rehabilitate the people affected by the floods and those displaced in the operations against extremists.
He assured that the Federal Government will hand over the due share of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa without any delay. He also assured support of his government for the Benazir Bhutto Shaheed hospital, Hepatitis hospital etc.Chief Minister Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Amir Haider Khan Hoti, Interior Minister Rehman Malik, Information Minister Qamar Zaman Kaira, In charge BISP Farzana Raja and parliamentarians were present – App