By IRNA
Islamabad : Pakistan Prime Minister-elect Syed Yousaf Raza Gillani Monday invited all political forces to extend a helping hand in taking the country out of economic and other crises.
In his maiden address to the National Assembly after election as Prime Minister, Gilani held out an assurance that the coalition government would strengthen institutions, ensure supremacy of the parliament, constitution and rule of law, independence of judiciary and freedom of the media.
The Prime Minister-elect said the coalition government would protect institutions and uphold the 1973 constitution which is a practicable and acceptable document holding together the federation.
He said they have passed many years in the opposition and are fully alive to the role of the opposition. He assured that the treasury would welcome positive criticism and there would be no compromise on the opposition’s self-respect, dignity and honour.
Syed Yousaf Raza Gillani thanked Pakistani people for giving mandate in the elections and the political parties that voted in his favour.
The Prime Minister-elect said after obtaining vote of confidence from the House he would be announcing first hundred-day programme of the new government.
He requested the House to pass a resolution demanding UN investigation into assassination of Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto and apology from people of Pakistan over judicial murder of the founder of the PPP later Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto.
Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani said he would order immediate release of the detained judges of the superior courts and also requested them to get their issues resolved through parliament instead of protests. This is because parliament is the highest law-making body of the country.