President hosts MPs of PPPP, ANP, PMLQ, IPP

ISLAMABAD: President Asif Ali Zardari has underscored the need to further strengthen parliamentary democracy and promote political stability to put the country on the path of development.

Talking about the current challenges facing the country, the president emphasised the need to forge political unity to steer the country out of its political, economic and security challenges. The president expressed these views during a dinner held in honour of parliamentarians belonging to Pakistan Peoples Party Parliamentarians (PPPP), Awami National Party (ANP), Pakistan Muslim League-Q (PMLQ), and Istehkaam-e-Pakistan Party (IPP) at Aiwan-e-Sadr on Monday.

Senate Chairman Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani, Federal Minister for Religious Affairs and Inter-Faith Harmony Chaudhary Salik Hussain, Punjab Governor Sardar Saleem Haider Khan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Governor Faisal Karim Kundi,Balochistan Chief Minister Mir Sarfaraz Ahmed Bugti, ANP President Senator Aimal Wali Khan, Senator Anwar-ul-Haq Kakar, IPP President Abdul Aleem Khan and senior political leadership of the country attended the dinner.

Speaking on the occasion, Zardari called for promoting tolerance and mutual respect as well as strengthening democratic institutions. He said that political, economic and governance reforms were essential for improving public service delivery and bringing economic prosperity.

He urged the need to rise above partisan interests and committedly work for the welfare of the people, adding that he was against the politics of confrontation that harmed the country. The parliamentarians suggested various measures to bring stability and provide relief to the people. They also appreciated the president for his political wisdom and vision in evolving consensus on issues of national significance.

Meanwhile, the federal capital buzzed with the speculations that the government is serious consideration of important legislation with regard to increasing the strength of judges of the higher judiciary and the retirement age.

The Geo News also report with quoting the sources that the ruling coalition is close to securing a two-thirds majority in the National Assembly, and if they get the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl support, the government would be needing three more votes.

Sources said the government wanted to ensure the presence of their legislators in Islamabad and the political observers sees the separate dinners hosted by the president and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif as a move to intact the ruling coalition for the important legislation that was being introduced in the coming days.