ISLAMABAD: PM, Yousaf Raza Gilani has expressed that National
interest was dearest to government, and peace in Karachi was foremost
desire, which necessitated the recent operation.
Addressing an
Iftar party in honor of media community on Thursday, PM denied any
telltale signs of weakness on behalf of government, and citing
implementation of law and order as Provincial subject, said that
federal government would render all possible assistance to them.
Replying
to a question, he said that he had been hearing all tall claims
regarding elimination of corruption ever since 1985, but it was
disgraceful that no government had so far been able to eke out any
solution to it.
He was also chagrined over the discrimination
being meted out to a democratically elected government regarding
accountability, while dictators were allowed to go scot-free in their
corruptions.
He said that he had been / would be personally
answering the objections and questions of parliamentarians, while
leader of the opposition had been appointed as chairman Public Accounts
Committee (PAC) to investigate any corruption. He cited recovery of an
impossible amount of Rs.170 billion from public departments as a living
proof of his cooperation to root out corruption.
Replying to
another question regarding appointment of the new Auditor General, he
clarified that promotion for officers of grades 21-22 was the
responsibility of the central selection board, while he (PM) had no
authority over it.
He said that the current auditor general was
the sole officer of accounts and audit group, having no reputation of
corruption, and also rejected the blame over his son’s expensive
Mercedes, which was imported in 2009, and hence had no relation to Hajj
scandal of 2010.
The PM also informed that Supreme Court had
ordered a case registered against PML-N parliamentarian Syed Imran Ali
Shah for his false statement, and PM hoped that this case had been
definitely registered. Online
