No possibility of Governor rule: Taseer

PESHAWAR - Punjab Governor Salman Taseer Wednesday ruled out the possibility of Governor's rule in Punjab, said demonstrating political maturity and respects to each other viewpoints were important to address problems confronting the country's today. Salman Taseer who arrived here on his maiden visit after assuming charge of Punjab Governor to condole with Federal Minister for Local Government Ghulam Ahmed Bilour over his mother's death, said that Government is committed to settle all the disputes through mutual consultations and consensus by taking the coalition partners on board. The Punjab Governor when asked about rumours of Governor Rule in his province said that coalition partners were smoothly working with unison and dubbed all such speculations mere propaganda by out rightly rejecting the imposition of Governor Rule. The close coordination between federal and provincial governments were must to address key issues, he added. The Governor Punjab said that we have to accommodate mandate of each other to help remove misunderstandings and mistrust from the provinces. He said that political forces have no option but to support each other to ensure consistency in democratic process, political stability, strengthening of democratic institutions and this process will continue.   He said that political parties are matured, saying that gone were the days when one party tried to destabilise the government of others in the past resultantly democracy was derailed. Salman Taseer said that problems related to transportation and increasing quota of wheat to NWFP would be taken up in due course of time. PPP leader MPA Qasim Zia, Finance Minister Punjab Tanveer Kaira and Tourism Minister Punjab accompanied the Governor. They offered fateha for the departed soul of mother of Bilour's and prayed may Allah Almighty rest the departed soul in eternal peace and grant courage to members of the bereaved families to bear this loss with patience and fortitude. Later, Governor Punjab Salman Taseer met NWFP Governor Owais Ahmed Ghani and Chief Minister Amir Khan Hoti. The governors of Punjab and NWFP exchanged views on matters of mutual interest with special reference to the well being of the people of both the provinces on this occasion. The Punjab Governor, besides the Provincial President of Pakistan Peoples Party Parliamentarian, Punjab Qasim Zia was also accompanied by the Punjab Ministers for Sports, Youth Affairs and Culture and Finance Tanvirul Islam and Tanvir Ahmed Kaira respectively as well as the Political Secretary to the Governor Zaheerul Islam. Governor Punjab also called on NWFP Chief Minister, Amir Haider Hoti at Chief Minister House, said a handout issued here. Speaker NWFP Assembly, Karamatullah Chaghar Matti and Provincial Ministers of Punjab including Dr. Tanvirul Islam, Tanvir Kaira and MPA Qasim Zia were also present on the occasion. Governor Punjab remained there for some time and held talks Chief Minister over law and order situation of NWFP. During the meeting, both the dignitaries also held discussion on enhancing inter-provincial coordination and other issues of mutual interest. Speaking on the occasion, Chief Minister NWFP apprised Governor Punjab about the measures taken by provincial government for curbing militancy and maintaining law and order situation in the province. He said the coalition government in NWFP is preferring on holding talks with those militants who are surrendering arms.  However, he added, those elements who are not giving due consideration to government's efforts and continuously challenging writ of the government would be dealt with iron hand. The Chief Minister stresses the need for inter-provincial visits of government and public representatives for increasing understanding among them. Later, Governor Punjab Salman Taseer while addressing PPP's MPAs and party workers at Sarhad Assembly Secretariat, said people of both the province are one from the core of their hearts and wanted prosperity and development of their country with missionary zeal. "The problems of the people of NWFP are our own problems and will address them on priority basis", he told the workers. However sometime the government has to take some difficult decisions regarding levying of certain taxes, he said, adding, the prices of some commodities have increased after establishment of the new government.  No democratic government imposed taxes at its own sweet will, he maintained. He said the people thinking about change in the government in few days were on wrong path and added that neither elections were held after two months of the general elections in any country nor government were changed so frequently. Salman Taseer underlined the need for frequent inter provincial visits so that to promote dhe atmosphere of trust and amity among the federating units. The Governor Punjab on this occasion announced to make efforts for increasing quote of the tribal students for admission into public sector universities in Punjab and the people of NWFP would soon hear good news about it. President of PPP Punjab Qasim Zia in his address said that vision of Shaheed -e-Jamhooriat Benazir Bhutto was guideline for the party workers. MPAs Attiqur Rehman, Noor Sehar and Faiza Rasheed and Kifayatullah Aurakzai also addressed the function and threw light on some of the problems of the party workers.

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