PPP Govt not to fill PML-N ministers’ portfolios: Sherry 
'Pakistan Times' Political Desk

ISLAMABAD: Minister for Information and Broadcasting Sherry Rehman Monday said Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) led government would not fill the portfolios vacated by the PML-N Ministers except the Minister for Finance.

“Finance is an important portfolio to run daily national business, therefore the government would assign it to any suitable person. Otherwise we intended not to include our members in the cabinet,” Sherry told media persons at the Parliament House.

She also stated that PPP would not field its candidates against Mian Nawaz Sharif and other PML (N) leaders during the upcoming by-polls as her party is committed to maintain the reconciliation culture.

“Only two ways are available for restoration of judges; one leads to collision and other towards reconciliation. We want to move on lines of reconciliation instead of collision, therefore, we would prefer resolution of the judges issue through constitutional means,” she remarked.

PPP Chairperson Benazir Bhutto had sacrificed her life for democracy and she set trend of reconciliation, the minister said, adding, “all the parties should take steps which should strenghten the democracy rather than destablizing it, as it has been restored after a long struggle.”

The minister said PPP is in contact with PML (N) to convince them on reverting their decision of resigning from the cabinet as the decision is not in favour of newly restored democracy in the country.

“Tendency of reconciliation was promoted after difficult phases, unfortunately it could not be maintained,” the minister said and added,” those advising the PML (N) for such decisions may not be well wishers of the democracy.”

In reply to a question, Sherry said, PPP still stands by its pledge to restore pre-November 3, 2007 judiciary under framework of Bhurban Accord, however, she said, the matter should not be hyped to crisis through deadlines.

Sherry Rehman brushed aside the reports of certain list of journalists or threats to them as reported in the media, rather she said, “PPP would even be co-petitioner with media organization in case in the Supreme Court.”

“Our party co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari and I myself contacted the journalists including Hamid Mir and management of the news channel to inquire the matter,” she said.

“It was during tenure of the last government that draconian laws against media were framed,” the minister added.

Sherry Rehman also welcomed the restoration of Pakistan’s membership in Commonwealth and termed it a big achievement of the democratic government.●