Associated Press Of Pakistan ( Pakistan's Premier NEWS Agency ) - PPP, PML-Q agree on joint efforts to strengthen democracy

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 25 (APP): The ruling Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and opposition party Pakistan Muslim League-Q (PML_Q) have agreed to make joint efforts to strengthen democracy by resolving all issues of national interest and people’s problems through mutual consultations. Federal Law Minister Dr Zaheer-ud-Din Babar Awan and PML-Q Parliamentary Leader in the National Assembly, Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi stated this in a joint media briefing after their meeting at the later’s residence on Chaudhry Zahoor Elahi Road here on Monday. PML-Q leader and Punjab Assembly Opposition Leader Chaudhry Zaheer-ud-Din Khan, Senator Kamil Ali Agha, PPP former Punjab President Mushtaq Awan, former PPP Lahore President Haji Aziz-ur-Rehman Chan, Information Secretary Zakria Butt and others were also present.

Dr Babar Awan said the PPP was following its reconciliatory policy to take all the political parties and other stake-holders onboard for resolving the national issues to ensure people’s prosperity. Today meeting with PML-Q leadership is also part of the PPP’s reconciliatory politics, and “We have similar views on national and democratic affairs and this liaison will continue in future as well,” he said.
To a question, he said that inflexibility and stubbornness in politics cannot make any breakthrough on issues or affairs and all the parties should adopt a new political culture in the new century and open doors of politics, as the democracy is a futuristic approach. The patience and tolerance are essential factors for continuation of democracy, he added.
In the present scenario in Pakistan, he said, the national reconciliation is the way forward to ensure a strong democratic set-up in the country, asserting, as per constitutional provisions, the treasury and opposition have equal responsibilities in running affairs of the state, however, their roles are different.
To another question, the Federal Law Minister said, the focus of political parties is now diverting towards exploring ways and means to ease public problems out.
Dr Babar Awan said that during the meeting, the PML-Q leadership gave him good suggestions regarding improvement in governance and pro-people agenda of the government, and he would convey these to the Prime Minister and his party (PPP).
Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi said the PML-Q wanted the PPP-led coalition government to complete its five- year constitutional term. Good governance and better performance of the government would guarantee strong democracy, he said.
He assured the PML-Q would support all those government initiatives meant for strengthening democracy, sorting-out issues of national and public importance. “We have participated in the PPP-led government’s initiatives and efforts regarding 18th Amendment, elimination of terrorism and all other national issues,” he said.
Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi said the PPP government in Sindh is not resorting to political vengeance against PML-Q, while the PML-N led government in Punjab is subjecting the Q-Leaguers to revenge, that is why the N-League has totally failed to deliver any good for the general public.

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