Associated Press Of Pakistan ( Pakistan's Premier NEWS Agency ) - Gilani urges PPP workers to prepare for LG elections

UNITED NATIONS, Oct. 26 (APP): Pakistan was re-elected Monday to the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), the economic arm of the UN, for the third consecutive year, with Ambassador Abdullah Hussain Haroon calling it a “fabulous victory”. “It’s a fabulous victory for Pakistan. It reflects the prestige Pakistan enjoys in the international community,” the top Pakistani diplomat told APP after Pakistan polled 149 votes in balloting at the 192-member General Assembly.

WASHINGTON, Oct 25 (APP): Pakistan has a role to play in Afghan reconciliation process and a political element is important to resolving the ongoing conflict in Afghanistan, according to a senior United States envoy. Special Representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan, Richard Holbrooke rejected the assertion that Pakistan army is opposed to Afghan reconciliation.

UNITED NATIONS, Oct. 25 (APP): Pakistan was re-elected Monday to the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), the economic arm of the UN, for the third consecutive year, with Ambassador Abdullah Hussain Haroon calling it a “fabulous victory”. “It’s a fabulous victory for Pakistan. It reflects the prestige Pakistan enjoys in the international community,” the top Pakistani diplomat told APP after Pakistan polled 149 votes in balloting at the 192-member General Assembly.

LONDON, Oct 25 (APP)- Barrister Sultan Mahmood Chaudhry, the former prime minister of Azad Jammu and Kashmir and leader of the People’s Muslim League (PML), underscored the need to resolve the Kashmir issue, which, he said, remained a flash point for a major conflagration not only in South Asia but for world at large.

LONDON, Oct 25 (APP)-The UK-based Association of Pakistani Lawyers on Monday condemned terrorist bomb attack at the shrine of “Baba Farid Ganj Shakkar” in Pakpattan and demanded a stern action against those outlawed elements in the state.

ISLAMABAD, Oct 25 (APP): Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi hoped his beleaguered side is focused enough to counter a spirited South African team in the back-to-back Twenty20 matches starting in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday. Pakistan’s recent tour to England was rocked by spot-fixing allegations which prompted a Scotland Yard investigation and the suspension of three of their players by the International Cricket Council, a private TV channel reported.

KARACHI, Oct. 25 (APP)- Former President International Cricket Council (ICC) Ehsan Mani is disgruntled over the conduct of the game’s ruling body in connection with Indian Test batsman Suresh Raina. Controversy hit the Indian cricket when a news report claimed that during the recent tour of Sri Lanka, Indian batsman Suresh Raina was seen in the company of a woman known to be an associate of a man allegedly linked to a bookmaker.

ISLAMABAD, Oct 25 (APP): President of Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) Syed Faisal Saleh Hayat has said US $400,000 donation from international governing body of football (FIFA) vice president Chung Mong Joon will go a long way in helping Pakistani football stand back on its feet.

ISLAMABAD, Oct 25 (APP): Top ranked tennis players have confirmed their participation in the 8th Subh-e-Nau (SN) National Clay Court Tennis Championship, starting from Wednesday at Pakistan Tennis Federation Complex Tennis Courts here.

LAHORE, Oct 23 (APP)- Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani has urged PPP workers to prepare for local government elections scheduled for next year.Addressing a PPP Punjab parliamentary party meeting at the Governor’s House here Saturday, he said LG elections would be an opportunity to reach out to the masses.The meeting started with recitation from the holy Quran while fateha was also offered for the departed soul of Shaheed Mohtrama Benazir Bhutto.Paying glowing tribute to the martyred leader, he said that Shaheed Benazir Bhutto had made transition to democracy possible as she forced Gen (Retd) Pervez Musharraf to announce general elections in the country in 2008 and shed his uniform.

The Premier said Shaheed Mohtrama Benazir Bhutto through her political insight and wisdom had made it possible for the political leadership to return to the country and take part in the elections.

He said BB had signed a Charter of Democracy (CoD) and it was a responsibility of every worker of the PPP to implement CoD and disseminate her vision in every nook and corner of the country.
The Prime Minister said the PPP had played a significant role in bringing about political stability and harmony in the country, braving all challenges, and history would stand witness to the role.
Gilani said if the ballot and implementation of manifestoes were yardsticks of success for a ploitical party, the PPP had implemented 80 percent of the CoD as well as 70 percent of the party manifesto.
He said the PPP government had rendred many services to the nation in the past three years, adding that it had restored the 1973 constitution to its original form, made the world accept Pakistan as a nuclear state and announced the NFC award which ensured political autonomy to the provinces.

The Prime Minister said that Pakistan achieved nuclear deterrence through wisdom of the PPP founding father Zulfikar Ali Bhutto who made Pakistan a nuclear state.
“It was a moment of great accomplishment for me and the people of Pakistan when I, as Prime Minister of Pakistan, was invited to a summit in Washington along with 50 other heads of states from nuclear capable countries,” the Prime Minister remarked.
Gilani said that raising energy resources was on Pakistan’s agenda in the strategic dialogues with the US government, adding that government is keen to overcome load-shedding and 1704 MW have been added to the national grid recently and the same quantity will be added during the next year.
He said that the PPP government started Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP) to empower women in the country dreamt by Shaheed Benazir Bhutto, adding that the scheme is not limited to one segment of society rather everyone has equal access to the facility. “I have asked MNA Farzana Raja to incorporate Life Insurance and Health Insurance in the BISP so that the needy should draw maximum benefit,” he added.
Gilani said that the government would complete its five-year constitutional tenure and would come into power for another five year by the power of the ballot.
Regarding government-media relations, he said, “We have nothing against the media as media had equally sacrificed for democracy in the country” but clarified, “Any specific comments regarding a certain media group do not mean that all the media was the subject.”
Gilani said, “The mediamen should not forget that it was Benazir Bhutto of the PPP who fought against the draconian PEMRA laws.”
About the judiciary, he said the PPP had always held judiciary in veneration and the elements which wishfully thought of clash of institutions, would have to be disappointed.
He directed all the administrative secretaries as well as the ministers to ensure 5 per cent job quota for the minorities in employment.
He also directed Chairman Evacuee Trust Property Board Asif Hashmi to start 5 marla housing scheme for the poor, adding that provision of homes and shelter is part of the PPP manifesto.
The Prime Minister said that the PPP government would surmount all challenges as it won war against terrorism, braved the threats along the borders and successfully achieved the transition from dictatorial regime to democracy.
He said the government takes all political parties and stake-holders on board for the continuation of democratic system in the country, adding that PPP will also take along the other institutions as the PPP is a symbol of federation.
Eulogizing the sacrifices rendered by the PPP leaders and workers for democracy, Gilani urged the PPP parliamentarians to work for strengthening democracy and parliament as per the vision of the Shaheed Benazir Bhutto, adding “Parliament is my strength”.
The meeting was attended by federal ministers, the state ministers, PPP MNAs and MPAs from Punjab. Conspicuous among them were Federal minsirters Mian Manzoor Ahmed Wattoo, Firdous Ashiq Awan, Sardar Assef Ahmed Ali, Shahbaz Bhatti, Hamid Saeed Kazmi, Syed Sumsam Bokhari, Imtiaz Safdar Warriach.
Earlier, Governor of Punjab Salman Taseer held a meeting with the Prime Minister at the Governor’s House. Taseer discussed prevalent socio-economic situation as well as various development projects in Punjab during the meeting.

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