By By our correspondent
This unequivocal assurance came from Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani on Tuesday while talking to The News exclusively.“No such proposal is before us and there is no question about it,” the prime minister said.
“The NRO has to go before the apex court and for the reason adoption of the piece of the legislation in question by parliament or otherwise would be of no consequence. To my mind, why go for a double jeopardy,” said Gilani.
When his attention was drawn towards the referred bill by a standing committee about placing restrictions on the media, he expressed ignorance about it, saying that the committees worked independently and as it would go the Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs it would be vetted by it. According to the prime minister, it would become a government bill when it would be put up in either house of parliament. “I will not allow any such bill to be tabled in the House since we have given sacrifices to attain the freedom of the press.”
He made it clear that no curb on the media would be imposed as long he was the chief executive of the country. He reminded that perhaps he was the lone member of parliament who was consigned to prison when two years ago the then government clamped restrictions on the media through imposition of emergency and the highly respectable judges were arrested under the same grubby law.
To a question, Prime Minister Gilani said he had asked the special committee of parliament to complete its recommendations on Balochistan on fast track. The government will call a joint sitting of parliament to announce measures to remove sense of deprivation among the people of Balochistan. Consultations with all the political groups are underway. “I have already taken leaders of other groups on board for the purpose. I have already spoken to Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain. Nawaz Sharif is being consulted on the subject and as soon the deliberations are completed, the joint sitting of parliament would be convened,” he said. It is likely that the joint sitting of parliament would be summoned next week to accord approval to the recommendations. The prime minister appreciated hard work being carried out by the special committee under Senator Mian Raza Rabbani.
He said Nawaz Sharif had gone to Gilgit-Baltistan and as soon he came back to Islamabad, briefing would be given to him on the action plan for Balochistan and his guidance would be sought on the matter.