Zardari may pardon Musharraf if convicted
Local Friday, September 18th, 2009Prime Minister Syed Yousaf Raza Gillani has said that if Musharraf is convicted under Article-6 of the Constitution, President Asif Ali Zardari may pardon him.
Only one person cannot be held responsible under Article-6, as the people who remained involved in the implementation, are equally culpable and responsible, the PM expressed these views on the occasion of Iftar Dinner hosted by him in honour of journalists here in PM’s House on Wednesday.
Commenting on statement on former President Gen (r) Pervez Musharraf attributed to President Asif Ali Zardari, the PM said the explanation has been given by the Presidential House. It is only the parliament that can decide on the issue relating the trial of Musharraf, he said adding president can waive anyone’s sentence; hence if anything is decided in connection with Musharraf’s trial, President can quash that as well. “You know who from the previous set up are sitting with the government,” he said in response to a question.
Gillani said the nation would soon hear good news regarding NFC award and added that economic stability was impossible without political stability. Country cannot afford the mid-term poll, he said. Gillani further said that the PPP government has brought reconciliation among the different state institutions.
If Pakistan Muslim League-N announces to observe October 12 as Black Day, Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) would stand by, he declared.
The decision of Gilgit-Baltistan would not negatively affect the issue of Kashmir, he said.
The issue of Balochistan would be raised in the joint session of the Parliament, the PM said adding if parliament wants, it can give go-ahead for investigations into the killing of Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto.
Today media is freely criticising government policies; it was impossible to think of few years back, he said. However, he said while the media criticise weaknesses of the government policies it should also appreciate and highlight its achievements.
He said Benazir Tractor Scheme has been launched because the government wanted the farmers to achieve self-sufficiency. The government is planning to provide agricultural equipments on subsidised rates, he further told the journalists. On rental power plants, the PM said the decision of cabinet would be final, adding that the power crises would be soon overcome.
He said certain vested interested were responsible for the flour and sugar shortages in the country.
Education budget to be raised to 4pc of GDP: Prime Minister Syed Yousaf Raza Gillani said the government plans to raise the education budget to four per cent of GDP from the existing 2.4 per cent. The prime minister stated this while talking to National Commission for Human Development (NCHD) Chairman Nafisa Shah, who called on him at PM’s House here Wednesday afternoon.
She briefed the prime minister about the working of NCHD in detail. She said that NCHD is the lead agency for literacy in Pakistan, which has also been recognised by UNESCO.
She said that through the commission more than 100,000 people would be provided basic education.
She further informed the prime minister that the total budget allocation for the programme is Rs 7 billion and it will create more than 50,000 jobs.
The prime minister said that the government accords high priority to education sector and is committed to the policy of education for all.
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on Sep 18 2009. Filed under