While talking to media persons outside the Parliament House, Kaira said that during a briefing about the Cabinet meeting, he had stated that as per the constitution the letter could not be written to Swiss authorities and his statement had been reported out of context. He explained that he had stated that the Cabinet had not yet discussed the letter to Swiss authorities and that he had also stated that the law minister would brief the Cabinet about the matter, which would then take a decision.

Kaira said that he had also said while replying to a question during the briefing that the letter could not be written to the Swiss authorities as per the constitution and that this was the stated position of the government.

Replying to a question, he said that consensus on appointing the CEC showed that political forces and institutions were united on national issues. He said that the rumour mongers had made attempts from day one to destabilise the government but the masses, media, judiciary and civil society would jointly protect the democracy. Without an independent judiciary, democracy cannot flourish, he added.

Some people outside Parliament and others with vested interests are spreading rumours, Kaira said. “There will be no extra-constitutional move as all institutions have learnt a lesson from the past,” he noted.

The minister said the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) leadership had sacrificed immensely for democracy. The PPP had always taken a firm stand againstdictators, while others had fled to Saudi Arabia and a so-called opposition leader preferred house arrest rather than go to jail. “The PPP could have used the right of appeal in former Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani’s conviction case,” Kaira said. He said that the PPP had also used the right of appeal in some cases, which could not be termed a clash with other institutions. The PPP has always respected the judiciary, he added.

Meanwhile, in a statement Kaira said, “I strongly dispel speculations in a section of the media that the government is contemplating to extend the tenure of the Parliament. “Elections will be held on time as stipulated in the Constitution.” He said, “Pakistan People’s Party believes in sustaining the democratic system and will never entertain such undemocratic suggestions.”

Meanwhile, speaking as chief guest at a signing ceremony for cooperation between the Norwegian embassy and the South Asia Free Media Foundation here, Kaira said that there was no threat to democracy in the country and civil society, judiciary, media and all other institutions were united on the issue of the continuation of the democratic process.He said that political parities and national institutions had learnt a lot from the past.