NA Pakistan Meets: Gillani Elected Prime Minister with Vast Majority
By Fatima Raza 'Pakistan Times' Special Correspondent

ISLAMABAD: Syed Yousaf Raza Gillani Monday secured 264 votes and was elected Leader of the House, amidst loud thumping and slogans.

Speaker National Assembly announced his name as Leader of the House as he enjoys “the confidence of the majority of the members”.

His opponent Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi secured 42 votes. Three members abstained from voting.

Gillani shall take oath of the office as 22nd Prime Minister of Pakistan today, Tuesday.

President Pervez Musharraf will administer the oath at an impressive ceremony to be held at Aiwan-e-Sadr [President House] in Islamabad in the morning.

After election as Leader of the House in the National Assembly – the new Prime Minister in his first speech highlighted the priorities – his government would peruse.

Prime Minister-Elect Yousaf Raza Gillani urged all the political forces to come forward and make concerted efforts for strengthening constitutional institutions and progress and prosperity of the country.

“No single person can be able to cope with the challenges confronting the country. The current situation needs all out efforts by all the political forces to put country on the true path of democracy,” he said in his speech after his election as Leader of the House with an overwhelming majority in the National Assembly.

Gillani said, “It is a historic moment and we have reached here after rendering enormous sacrifices. We will make every effort to live up to the expectations of people who gave us a mandate in the February 18 elections.”

He urged the members to pass three resolutions respectively in favour of probe into the assassination of PPP Chairperson Late Benazir Bhutto by the United Nations, apology on the judicial murder of Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto and repose confidence in the Murree Declaration and Charter of Democracy.

Gillani said he would direct the concerned authorities to release the deposed judges at the earliest and vowed that his government would put in best efforts for supremacy of the Parliament, rule of law and respect for the Constitution.

Highlighting the importance of the role of opposition, he said members both from treasury and opposition benches are equally responsible to bail out the country from current crises and provide relief to people who have great expectation from this assembly.

“We have great respect and regard for opposition members and we will maintain their self-respect, honor and dignity besides welcoming constructive criticism from them,” he said.

He assured the House that the government would try its best to strengthen the democratic institutions, adding, unless the institutions get stronger we could not move in right direction.

Gillani said, “Our slain leader Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto sacrificed her life for the cause of democracy and now it is our responsibility to strengthen the democratic institutions in line with the aspirations of common people.”

He said his party had long been in opposition and struggled undeterred to achieve the goal of democracy. “We have paid a heavy price for it.”

Yousaf Raza Gillani said he would announce the agenda of first 100 days of his government in consultation with coalition partners and after securing vote of confidence in the House. “This agenda would focus on addressing the issues like price hike, load shedding, poverty, unemployment etc.”

“We will prove that we are servant of our people and not the masters. We will serve them and make them feel that we are here to ensure that they have all those facilities they have been aspiring for a long time,” he said.

He said, “It is not a charity because we have achieved this success after a long political struggle and we will not waste this opportunity.”

“We firmly believe in the freedom of press as it has an important role in the efforts aimed at strengthening the democratic institutions in the country,” he said.

He thanked Pakistan Democratic Alliance (PDA) including PML-N, ANP as well as MQM and independent candidates and those from FATA who reposed their confidence in him and made him win the election for the office of the Prime Minister.

He also invited guidance and suggestions from all members across the divide.

Speaker National Assembly Dr Fahmida Mirza Monday congratulated Prime Minister-elect Makhdoom Yousaf Raza Gillani for winning the election for Leader of the House.

“I congratulate you on winning overwhelming majority and command of the House,” she said, soon after the newly elected Prime Minister concluded his maiden speech.

The Speaker hoped the Prime Minister-elect would take along all political forces and work for sanctity and respect of the House.

“I hope you would work for supremacy of the Parliament and work for strengthening institutions,” she said.

Highlights of NA Session

Prime Minister-elect Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani remained centre of attraction in the House and a large number of MNAs congratulated him turn by turn.

· Visitors galleries were full to the capacity, even the guests were standing at the entrances of the Hall.

*President Supreme Court Bar Association Chaudhry Aitzaz Ahsan, sitting in the visitor’s gallery was greeted by most of the MNAs while entering the House.

*Senior PPP leader Dr Zulfiqar Mirza witnessed the House proceedings from the Speaker’s gallery. Many other Senators also witnessed the proceedings of the House from the visitor’s gallery.

*PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari was also present at the Speaker’s gallery. Most of the PPPP MNAs including Makhdoom Amin Fahim went towards the gallery to have a hand shake with him.

*After his election as the Prime Minister Syed Yousaf Raza Gillani was escorted to the chair meant for the Leader of the House by several PPPP leaders.

*Before taking his seat, he went towards the Speaker’s gallery to shake hand with Bilawal, the Party Chairman. He also went to the seat of Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi and hugged him.

*The galleries of the House were reverberating with slogans of “Jeay Bhutto and “Zinda Hai BB Zinda Hai”.

*When he entered the House, Syed Yousaf Raza Gillani was flanked by Syed Naveed Qamar and Sherry Rehman.

*Three MNAs—two belonging to PML-Functional and one from JUI-Ideological—abstained from voting but they remained present in the House.

*Maulana Asmatullah of JUI-I offered his Asr prayers inside the House.

*When the Prime Minister-elect announced that he would issue order for early release of the judges, he received standing ovation.

*Senior PPPP leader Shah Mehmood Qureshi warmly congratulated Syed Yousaf Raza Gillani after his election as the prime minister.●