ISLAMABAD - Senators belonging to Awami National Party and Fata separately called on Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani and assured him of their unflinching support to the government in all its endeavours to strengthen the democracy.
In their meeting with the PM, Senators Abdul Razzaq Afridi and Hafiz Abdul Rashid from Fata appreciated the leadership of the PM for strengthening the democratic institutions in the country and also taking firm stand for the upholding of the territorial sovereignty of the country. They reaffirmed their support for democracy and the Constitution reposing their full confidence in the leadership of the PM.
 The PM thanked the Senators and said that the present democratic govt always gave top consideration in its policies to the national interests and would continue honouring the people’s aspirations. “The dictators succumb to pressure with one telephone call,” the PM said, adding that the elected democratic govt took such policy decisions in foreign policy domain, which were unheard off during the dictatorial regimes in the past.
The Prime Minister said that the 20th Amendment will strengthen the Election Commission of Pakistan enabling it fully to hold free, fair and impartial elections in the country. Nobody would question the credibility of the electoral process, he said.
Earlier, the Senators highly appreciated the Prime Minister for record allocation of Rs15 billion for Fata development, adding that Musharraf received “blank cheque” in the name of Fata but showed no interest in improving the quality of life of the people.
Later, the ANP Senators called on the Prime Minister and extended unconditional support to the democratic government led by the Prime Minister.
Those who met the Prime Minister included, Senators, Muhammad Zahid Khan, Abdul Nabi Bangish, Haji Muhammad Adeel, Ilyas Ahmed Bilour, Afrasiab and Farah Aqil.