LAHORE: Prime Minister, Yousaf Raza Gilani has advised PML-N head
Mian Nawaz Sharif to wait patiently for his turn as PM of Pakistan, and
not seek any shortcuts to rule.
Addressing the oath taking
ceremony of newly elected office bearers of Lahore press club at
Aiwan-e-Iqbal, Gilani said that the government would complete its legal
tenure upto 2013, and expressed his pride at the fact that he would be
the first elected PM to table fifth Budget of Nation to masses.
He
also said that this was the first ever democratically elected
government, whence COAS and DG-ISI briefed Parliamentarians at the
Parliament.
He also expressed his great pride at his
participation in the oath-taking ceremony of media representatives, and
while extending them his congratulations over their elections, reminded
that PPPP and press enjoyed strongly bonded brotherhood between
themselves.
Reminding Lahore’s journalism as being of
significant importance, he cited references of such journalistic
landmarks like Maulana Zafar Ali Khan, Shorash Kashmiri, Hameed Nizami,
Faiz Ahmad Faiz, Ahmad Nadeem Qasmi, Z. A. Suleri, Professor Waris Mir,
Safdar Mir, Zaheer Kashmiri, Hanif Ramay, Majeed Nizami, Zahoor Alam
Shaheed, and Arif Nizami among others.
Lauding the equally
selfless sacrifices by media for noble causes of democracy, he paid
glowing tributes to 1200-strong Lahore Press club as being the largest
in Pakistan, and home to intellectual fraternity of Nation from whence
streams intellectual, educational and literacy-oriented intelligentsia.
Reminding the participants of the fact that democracy and press
were entwined in deep inseparable bonds, he cited the famous saying of
Quaid-e-Azam that “Nation and press rise and fall together”; a
philosophy proved by Pakistan’s National history.
The PM also
said that ever since its inception, PPP always struggled for evolution
and freedom of journalism in Country, besides striving for welfare of
journalists.
He reminded of an Ordinance in 2002, which sought
to stifle freedom of speech of journalism, but which had been
terminated. He also reminded that no journalist, author had ever been
detained during this regime’s tenure.
Among many other
successful endeavors for evolvement of journalism in Country, he also
cited the recently introduced Press Council of Pakistan, which would
hopefully bridge an effective coordination between press and masses,
eventually evolving as one of major journalistic institutions at global
platforms.
The PM also cited numerous grants and financial aid
to various press clubs, for better welfare of journalist community,
especially plots for families of journalists falling/fallen prey to
terrorism.
Inviting all to pledge their solemn support and
struggle for evolving Pakistan into an exemplary progressive,
democratic, Muslim -oriented welfare state, as envisioned by Allama
Iqbal and Muhammad Ali Jinnah, he also announced a Rs. 100 million grant
for Lahore Press Club. Online
