[Loonerisav]

Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani said on Sunday that no institution other than parliament could rewrite the Constitution. �The Constitution clearly determines the role of all state institutions which work within their ambit and are bound to follow the Constitution,� he said while talking to senior columnists at his residence here. The prime minister said all institutions were passing through the process of evolution and they would identify their role with the passage of time. �Soon after the PPP came to power, the country was faced with multiple challenges like global recession, energy crisis, terrorism and floods which consumed energies of the government, but we would overcome these challenges,� he asserted. He said he would invite all political parties for discussion on security as well as economic issues, adding that he would take initiative to bring all religious as well as political parties on the table to discuss security challenges. The prime minister said the policy of reconciliation had played a vital role in creating political harmony and helped in the passage of constitutional amendments, including the 18th as well as 19th Amendments, and NFC Award, adding that the efforts would continue. Regarding security issues, Mr Gilani said the government would not allow the misuse of any law which might undermine the constitutional rights of people or lead to injustice. About the Raymond Davis case, he said the government would not take any decision against the dignity and sovereignty of the country. Talking about the political turmoil in the Middle East and other countries, Mr Gilani said: �The situation in the Middle East and North Africa cannot be compared with Pakistan. There is a Constitution at work in Pakistan and a constitutional procedure to bring about a change.� Referring to the water dispute with India, he said the issue would be resolved in accordance with the Indus Basin Treaty, adding that Pakistan wanted to resolve the unfinished agenda with India through dialogue. He said that Diamer Bhasha Dam was an outcome of consensus among all political forces and it was unanimously adopted by all provinces in the meeting of the Council of Common Interests (CCI), adding the government wanted discussion on all mega projects. Regarding subsidy on petroleum products, the prime minister said that all political parties must come up with their proposals to meet the deficit incurred by providing subsidy to the people on petroleum products. He said the government was restructuring public sector enterprises in order to strengthen the economy. The prime minister claimed that the government had received accolades as well as international recognition for its across-the-board and transparent financial assistance to the poor sections of society through the Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP). He said the government had launched a poverty survey to collect data of the needy and the survey would be expanded to the rest of the country. He said the government also planned to provide subsidy on gas and electricity to the poor, besides launching health insurance for the deprived segments of society. Regarding Pak-US relations, he said he wanted the US to adopt regional parity and extend equal status to Pakistan vis-�-vis other neighbouring states, stressing that discrimination led to mistrust and misunderstanding. He called upon the print as well as electronic media to play their role in creating harmony among all segments of society by highlighting cultural aspects.�APP
By: Dawn News