PM Raja won't meet Gilani's fate, hopes Kaira

ISLAMABAD: Minister for Information and Broadcasting Qamar Zaman Kaira Wednesday said likewise past, the government would implement thedecisions of the apex court in future as well.

Talking to media after attending a seminar on 'civil-military relations: impact on human rights', he said," the government has due respect for judiciary and there is no clash among institutions.

The minister recalled that the government has accepted the Supreme Court's verdict regarding disqualification of former prime minister as well as the nullification of Contempt of Court Act.

He said it was the respect for the judiciary that former Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gillani appeared before the court after he had been summoned.

To a question about the future of the incumbent Prime Minister Raja Pervaiz Ashraf vis-a-vis court proceeding, he hoped he would not meet the same fate.

Kaira said that legislation is the domain of the Parliament and defunct Contempt of Court Act was passed by with consensus.

He said the decision have pointed out only the clause contradicting the constitution instead of nullifying it in totality.

To a question, the information minister said no one is allowed to interfere into the legislation what hesaid was purely the domain of the Parliament.

Regarding the show cause to the prime minister, he said the government's legal team is yet to give its opinion on the matter, though reiterating that the government would respect court's directive.

Asked about response on early election, he viewed that it was not the solution of prevailing issues.

"By demanding fresh polls, do they want to expel us from the election process. We have won recent bye-polls and would bag victory in future too," Kaira commented.

Earlier addressing the seminar, the information minister called upon state institutions and politicians to learn lessons from the history and work for promoting reconciliation. He said all institutions must work in their constitutional ambits to run the country in harmony and strengthen the democracy.

Kaira said different institutions of the state were trying to adjust their role in the new democratic set up and hopefully this adjustment would end on a positive note.

He said the Constitution has clearly defined roles of all institutions and they should discharge their responsibilities within the constitutional parameters.

Referring to the present state of relationship between the executive and the judiciary, he said the latter for the first time is asserting its independence.

He said likewise other institutions, difference of opinion may occur between executive and the judiciary on certain issues.

The minister said operation in Sawat against terrorists is best example of civil-military cooperation.

He said the behavior of an individual or party, not democracy may disappoint the people, adding the dictators have failed to put country on track of progress. (APP)