DERA GHAZI KHAN: Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani said on Monday those who wanted to impose their “own brand of Sharia” were not sincere with the country and the nation.
“Those who shed the blood of innocent people, target shrines of saints and bomb educational institutions are, in fact, enemies of the country,” added the premier. Addressing different functions in Dera Ghazi Khan, Muzaffargarh and Multan on Monday, Gilani said he himself belonged to a religious family and he could not even think of changing the Namoos-e-Risalat Qanoon (blasphemy laws). He said no amendments were being made to the blasphemy laws; however, the government would take steps to prevent the misuse of these laws.
Addressing a function at the regional campus of the Allama Iqbal Open University, the premier said the policy of national reconciliation would continue and the Pakistan People’s Party government was determined to strengthen the institutions. He said due to the ongoing reconciliation policy, the government had succeeded in making 18th and 19th amendments to the Constitution, giving a new NFC Award and making successes in the war against terrorism.
He announced that an IT University would be set up in DG Khan and the AIOU regional campus would get Rs50 million. The Bahauddin Zakariya University sub-campus in DG Khan will get four new buses for students and staff, he added. He said he did not come to DG Khan to criticise any other party or political leader but to recount the achievements his government had made thus far.
The premier also announced Rs 20m for the DG Khan District Bar Association and Rs 1m for the Rajanpur bar. The PM inaugurated the regional campus of the AIOU and sub-campus of the BZU.
Earlier, the AIOU Vice-Chancellor, Dr Nazir A Sangi, and BZU’s Prof Dr Zaffarullah Khan presented the welcome address. The city was sealed before the arrival of the prime minister and police vans, prisoner vans and private buses were parked to block the New College Road, Railway Road, Bank Road, Faisal Chowk, Link Jampur Road, Cafe Waqar, Model Town Road for vehicular traffic and pedestrians.
Agencies add: Promising development of the region, PM Gilani said: “I will ensure that the region witnesses a sea-change.” He said setting up of the IT University in DG Khan would provide an opportunity to the local youth to get modern education.
Gilani said with the appointment of Governor Latif Khosa, things were definitely going to improve. Later, addressing a public meeting at the inauguration of Muzaffargarh Bypass Road, PM Gilani stressed that terrorism and extremism needed to be eradicated to improve law and order, boost economy and bring foreign investment. “Terrorism has to be eradicated to create an atmosphere in which everybody can make investment without any fear.”
The PM praised the people of Muzaffargarh for bravely facing the calamity of floods and said such display of strength could not be seen anywhere else in the world. Gilani said the Head Muhammadwala Project costing three billion rupees, which was launched on the directives of Benazir Bhutto, would be completed soon.
He said the PPP had restored to its original form the Constitution of 1973, which was the achievement of Zulfikar Bhutto and Benazir Bhutto. “We are strengthening the state institutions created under the 1973 Constitution to fulfil the dream of Benazir Bhutto,” he said.
The PM accepted the demand of Minister of State for Finance Hina Rabbani Khar for bricklining of the Muzaffargarh Canal and reconstruction of DG Khan-Multan Road.
Later, administering an oath to the newly-elected office-bearers of the Multan Press Club at the local airport, the prime minister urged the media to play its role with responsibility in the war against terrorism and reiterated the government’s resolve to eliminate the menace of terrorism from the country.
He handed over a cheque of Rs70 million to the President of the Multan Press Club Shakeel Anjum for payment to the Punjab Journalists Housing Foundation for the plots allotted to media persons in Journalists Colony, Multan. He also announced a grant of Rs7 million for the local press club. Gilani said he had accepted all the demands of the media in his last meeting with the representatives of the All Pakistan Newspapers Society (APNS).