All credit for the 26th constitutional amendment goes to Bilawal Bhutto, Governor of Punjab
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Governor Punjab Sardar Salim Haider had a special conversation with Bureau Chief Hum News Lahore Shiraz Hasnat in an interview. Following is the summary of his conversation with Hum News.
Governor Punjab said that the entire credit of the 26th constitutional amendment goes to Bilawal Bhutto. Chairman Pakistan People’s Party fulfilled the incomplete mission of Benazir Bhutto and he stayed awake many nights regarding it. Bilawal Bhutto tried to bring Tehreek-e-Insaaf to negotiations during the approval of the constitutional amendment. Tehreek-e-Insaf did not want to talk directly with the People’s Party, so the Chairman People’s Party took the services of Maulana Fazlur Rehman.
He said that Tehreek-e-Insaf was fully involved in all the negotiations on the twenty-sixth constitutional amendment, its leaders wanted to discuss the amendment with consensus in the assembly. But when the leaders met the founder of PTI in jail, he forbade the leaders. PTI founder told the party leaders that if you negotiate, I will stay inside, if you protest, I will come out. The governor of Punjab said that Tehreek-e-Insaf members make some excuse not to talk. Even going ahead, Tehreek-e-Insaf is once again in the mood of rallying and protesting.
Governor Punjab said that a tradition has become that now political point scoring is going on more in this country. Personal interest and ego are given priority over the issue of national interest. Tehreek-e-Insaf protested on every important occasion and prioritized its personal interest over national interest. Tehreek-e-Insaf protests when a guest comes, be it the arrival of the President of China, the visit of the President of Malaysia, a meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization. Tehreek-e-Insaf protests. He said that now people cannot be mad for long, everyone knows that the country comes first.
Regarding the appointment of judges by the parliamentary party in the twenty-sixth constitutional amendment, Governor Punjab Sardar Saleem Haider said that the appointment of the Chief Justice cannot be called a violation of merit. In many countries, a parliamentary committee appoints the Chief Justice. He said that if Tehreek-e-Insaf sat in the parliamentary committee, things would have improved. Had it been discussed further, the matter might have gone further. He said that if this experiment is not successful going forward, it can be further improved. But it is only possible that the people sitting in the parliament debate, give their position with arguments.
Regarding Article 63A of the Constitution, Governor Punjab Sardar Salim Haider said that this dispute has been going on for a long time. The Election Commission also has an opinion on the decision of the Supreme Court on the issue of reserved seats. The Parliament also gave a decision, constitutionally the Parliament is supreme and the Election Commission also went to the Supreme Court to decide who to believe. He said that according to the constitution, legislation is the parliament’s right, while interpretation is the right of the Supreme Court.
He said that there is a deadlock in matters regarding the alliance between the Muslim League-N and the Pakistan People’s Party. It is PML-N’s own policy not to give us a share, the allies do not bother PML-N in this regard. He said that it was our right to be given a share in Punjab, it was decided. It is hoped that the leadership will discuss what was decided in the Muslim League-N and the People’s Party. In this regard, the affairs of the two parties will be between Bilawal Bhutto and the Prime Minister, or Bilawal Bhutto and Maryam Nawaz. He vowed that as governor he will not allow abuse of his workers and poor people.
Regarding the restoration of the People’s Party in Punjab once again, the Governor of Punjab said that the worker of the People’s Party is in every street, every corner, but he became silent due to some of our policies. Efforts are being made to end the frustration of the workers and bring them out of their homes. He said that some new additions are to be made in the People’s Party, but Chairman Bilawal Bhutto is busy. As soon as they give time, new members will be made in Pakistan People’s Party.
On the question whether Bilawal Bhutto won in Lahore from form forty-seven or form forty-five, the governor of Punjab said that many fingers have been raised on this election. The election should be such that no one can lift a finger on it. Everyone has to believe that this election was right. He wished that the twenty-seventh amendment should be made and that the election should be the main point. He said that the most important reason for the objection to the election is the weakening of the system. First you need to strengthen your system.
Regarding Bilawal Bhutto becoming the Prime Minister, Governor Punjab said that he has no doubt that when the people voted and People’s Party won, Bilawal Bhutto will become the Prime Minister. As a political worker, he wants Bilawal to become the prime minister in the next six months, but the elections should be held on time. He said that in-house change is not our desire, PML-N is an ally. We are supporting them, will continue to support them.
On the relationship with the establishment, Governor Punjab said that People’s Party is a responsible party and it sees the country first. There are many bitter sips which the People’s Party does not want to drink, but if it does not do so, the country will suffer. He said that the establishment is also our own, it is not our enemy. Politicians are those who talk to them and take decisions on things regarding themselves. He said that the military establishment can put an end to the conspiracies against this country.
Regarding the disagreement with the Punjab government on the appointment of the vice-chancellors of the universities of the province in recent days, the governor of Punjab said that the issue of the appointment of the vice-chancellors has been delayed and he is not happy about it. The vice chancellors should have appointed those people on merit, on whom no one could point a finger. He said that he had rejected all the names sent by the search committees of the Punjab government. He said that seven out of thirteen vice-chancellors have been appointed, six are yet to be appointed. Seven vice-chancellors were also appointed because the summary had to be sent back within fourteen days. Didn’t sign the summary, went back on the fortnight. He gave a clear stand that even if all these vice-chancellors get involved, it will not be done by his pen. The Governor of Punjab expressed his helplessness that personally, I think that there is tension on the issue of Vice-Chancellors, but there is a coalition government, he does not want to disturb the leadership.
He further said that Chief Minister Punjab has many powers due to which he is not able to focus on many issues. Some of these powers should be vested in the Governor. Some powers existed before the Eighteenth Amendment, some went back.
Regarding the smog in Punjab, especially Lahore, Governor Punjab said that along with the government, private organizations are also working on it. There are, but it is very important to implement them.
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