Pak PM says NA will decide working ties with President

Pakistan Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani has said that matters relating to the Presidency will be handled constitutionally and the issue of forging a working relationship with President Pervez Musharraf will be decided by the National Assembly.

Multan, May 5 : Pakistan Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani has said that matters relating to the Presidency will be handled constitutionally and the issue of forging a working relationship with President Pervez Musharraf will be decided by the National Assembly.

"Parliament will not be a mere rubber stamp and all state institutions will be protected, while freedom of judiciary and media will be ensured," Gilani said.

Gilani said this while talking with press persons at the local Press Club. He spoke on wide ranging issues.

Reiterating that terrorism affected the country's progress, he said that his government would never negotiate with terrorists or extremists. Negotiations would be held only with those who surrendered their arms, he said and added that he did not have any information about negotiations with Baitullah Mehsud and would ask the NWFP governor about it, reported the Dawn.

He said that his party the PPP was not against the local government system, but there were flaws in it that undermined the provincial autonomy.

He said that the process to amend the PEMRA (Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority) ordinance had begun to ensure freedom of the media, which was one of the most important pillars of the state and had played an important role in the restoration of democracy and independence of judiciary.

ANI