Taseer warns against 'horse-trading'

LAHORE - Governor Punjab, Salman Taseer, while urging the political parties to stop politics of 'forward blocs' and horse-trading, has promised for lifting the Governor Rule within 24 hours provided either PPP or PML-N forms an alliance with the PML-Q or with each other to prove majority and bring forward a joint candidate as Leader of the House. He was addressing a Press conference at the Governor's House here on Wednesday.
A visibly less belligerent and soft towards the PML-N, Salman Taseer said no single party commanded majority in the Punjab Assembly and the only way forward was alliance of two from among three major parties. "The Constitution does not recognise any such majority, which some party gets through negative tactics, as the members of the assembly have got mandate of people on manifesto of their political parties. Being the Governor, I cannot appreciate any such activity," the Governor said, while adding that the people who had got mandate of public on behalf of their party, could not hand it over to others.
He invited N-League leadership to put an end to the politics of confrontation and help in the lifting of the Governor Rule. "People of the Punjab are tired of street politics and want political matters to be resolved in assemblies. If the political leadership wants lifting of the Rule, horse-trading should be stopped which is against the spirit of Charter of Democracy in which both the parties have promised to respect each other's mandate. The N-League can form alliance with any other party and bring forward a joint candidate," he added.
Replying to a question about the PPP's effort at creating a forward bloc within the N-League, Salman Taseer said that formation of forward bloc and horse-trading was against democratic traditions and constitution. "Politics of forward blocs and horse-trading will not help in creating a stable government, as the assemblies cannot be run with such a mindset. During the recent confrontation between the PPP and N-League, the idea of creating a forward bloc within N-League at the federal level was floated, but the PPP leadership did not support this idea," he maintained.
He said that people of the province were fed up with the politics of roads and they wanted to see a stable government in the province.
Salman Taseer said his administration had neither arrested any political worker or leader nor used baton charge against them during the long march. "A lenient way was adopted and all allegations in this regard were baseless," he asserted.
He said in the light of clear instructions of PPP leadership, complete security cover was provided to Nawaz Sharif during long march. "Nawaz Sharif was not arrested and neither any hurdle was created on the route of his rally nor it was baton charged. The police was not ordered to baton charge the angry crowd on The Mall though the protestors had hurled stones on police; only tear gas was used to control the situation," said the Governor.
In reply to another question, the Governor said that he had complete information when Shahbaz Sharif had proceeded to Islamabad from Lahore, but upon instructions from President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani no action was taken, and if any arrest was to be made, it would have been done much earlier. "However, this should not be taken as a weakness," he warned.
Commenting upon the rumour about his removal, Salmaan Taseer said Mehmud Ghaznavi had attacked 17 times, but still he did not give up. "Our media has given the news about his change for about 20 times, but the truth is that I am not being changed. And if such a decision is taken, I will be the first to break this news to the media," he promised.
The Governor averred that as a result of the restoration of Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry and other judges, a new era of compromise would start and it was hoped that matters would be dealt with the same spirit in the Punjab as well.
Salman Taseer said the PPP had promised reinstatement of Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry after completion of the term of office of the Chief Justice Abdul Hameed Dogar, and Asif Ali Zardari and Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani deserved all credit for honouring this pledge.
Governor also congratulated Nawaz Sharif, who after fulfilment of this demand, displayed democratic attitude and announced full opportunity to the PPP government to complete its term of five years.
MPA Shaukat Basra, PPP Punjab President Rana Aftab Ahmed Khan, General Secretary Samiullah Khan, Malik Hafeez, Ch Asghar and other leaders of the Party were also present on the occasion.