Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani replying a question if he would go to jail or face contempt charges, has said that he is scared of nobody and if he was, he wouldn’t have joined politics.
This he while talking to media persons Prime Minister Gilani after
addressing the 75th Convocation of Kinnaird College for Women in Lahore.
“If you are in the coal business, your hands get black. If I were
scared, I wouldn’t join politics. I am not afraid of anybody,” said the
prime minister.
He said that the media had never been freer than under his
government. “I will give more freedom to the media. There are two
reasons for it. First, when they (journalists) criticise us our sins are
washed off. Second, the criticism takes us on to further heights,” he
added. PM Gilani said that his was the only democratically elected
government to have completed four years.
“We completed four years in government while crossing the river of
fire. Tomorrow (on Saturday), a constitutional requirement will be
fulfilled which has never been fulfilled before. For the first time in
history, President Asif Ali Zardari will address the joint session of
parliament for the fifth time. He will give the policy statement in his
address, but I would like to reveal in the upcoming budget we will give
relief to people,” he said.
“I have passed directions to Ministry of Finance to create 100,000
jobs so that educated youth could get employment. The Ministry for
Information Technology (IT) is under the prime minister and I am also
giving several IT programs for the people,” the prime minister said.
Earlier in his address to the students, Gilani said that next year
will be centennial year for Kinnaird College which is a very important
year for Pakistan as well. “The Army chief will complete his tenure in
2013. The chief justice, president, parliament of which I am a part,
will complete its tenure in 2013. So the next year is very important for
Kinnaird College and for Pakistan as well,” he maintained.
He said that said that Pakistan Peoples Party had given autonomy
under the regime of Benazir Bhutto, adding that the party believes in
emancipation and creating equal opportunities for women.
“First woman foreign minister is appointed by our government and so
is the speaker of the National Assembly. We have given women the key
slots,” he maintained. SANA
