Federal Minister for Information Qamar Zaman Kaira on Monday asked Dr Tahirul Qadri to refrain from resorting to any unconstitutional move in the name of changing the system.
Put forward your recommendations on electoral reforms to the Election Commission of Pakistan, but refrain from taking any unconstitutional step for attaining this objective”, he told Dr Qadri while talking to the media after addressing the inaugural session of centennial celebrations of Pakistan Engineering Congress (1912-2012) at a local hotel. Replying to a question, Kaira said that PPP government had no fear of Dr Tahirul Qadri or his party, adding, that MQM was indeed an ally in the PPP-led democratic government but it was working in its domain.Kaira believed that Constitution was the only way through which Pakistan could be stabilised by all aspects.
The PPP, he said, had resolved all basic problems while taking on board all segments of the society. “The PPP is the role model for those trying to make a Tehrir Square (Egypt) in Pakistan”, he observed , adding, that they must shun this urge, since the country’s media, judiciary and Election Commission were enjoying full freedom.Earlier, addressing the PEC session, Qamar Zaman Kaira said that engineers were surely contributing a lot in the country’s defence and infrastructural development.
The private sector’s role was equally commendable, as it provided forums to engineers to polish their skills, he maintained.The Minister said that Pakistani engineers and doctors had proved that they were second to none in the world, which was a great pride for the country. Though developed world spent a major share their budget on research and development, Pakistan for being a developing State, had meagre resources in this regard, he added.
Kaira observed that in Pakistan’s history, many dictators and politicians ruled the country and tried to resolve its basic problems, but it was the PPP only that under the leadership of Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto Shaheed accomplished this difficult task. “We have always tried to revitalise Pakistan by all means,” he mentioned. He objected that only the politicians were always widely criticised but the question was that how much period they rule the country and under which circumstances.
The dictators had detracted the country from its fundamental system, he added.Kaira said, it was a fact that no mega dam was constructed in Pakistan during last many years, which was a major cause of power shortage and its higher tariff, but we have to determine, which rulers did not embark upon such projects of national importance.The Federal Minister pointed out that last regime had laid foundation stone of Diamir-Bhasha Dam but did not purchase even an inch of land for the mega project. Contrary to this, he added, the present government had worked out the project during last three and a half years and now the project was at the completion stage.
The present coalition government had not only introduced the tradition of continuing with last government’s incomplete projects but also promoted the habit of consultation to give an end to political differences. Now the projects were approved by the Council of Common Interest (CCI), he maintained.He said that Asif Ali Zardari was being criticised as a political president but infact, he was that President in Pakistan’s history, who transferred his powers to the Parliament.
The present government had the credit of settling down the long-standing NFC formula, under which the provinces were now receiving more resources, he said. He said the projects of national importance would have to be initiated just like the Constitution of 1973 had been restored with consensus and politics of reconciliation.In 2008 when the PPP came into power, the country’s situations on all fronts especially the economic, was very poor and terrorism was on its peak, he said and added, the present coalition government took effective measures that not only broke the terrorists’ structure but also improved the economic indicators. In 2008, Pakistan had been importing wheat for local needs and now we are in a position to export this commodity.
About engineers’ service structure, the Minister assured the quarters concerned of taking all possible steps to resolve this issue. He commended the PEC for introducing scholarships for brilliant students in all engineering universities of Pakistan, besides establishing Modern Computer College importing education to 7,000 young engineers and engineering students.PEC President Engineer Riaz Ahmed Khan and other office-bearers were also present.