Describing as “serious” the problems confronting Pakistan, Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gillani on Tuesday said the new coalition government will have to take along all political forces to find their solutions.“The problems before the country are serious,” Gillani told a ceremony here to mark the launch of a documentary on Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) founder and former premier Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto.“We assure the nation and the party that we are not in government for perks and privileges. We have come to deliver and we will deliver,” he said.Gillani pointed out that there was a “split mandate” in the general election and this had resulted in the formation of a coalition government by the PPP, PML-N and other parties.“We will have to take along all the political forces.” He said the Constitution of 1973 framed under the guidance of Zulfiqar Bhutto remained a vital document for the country’s polity. “If we want to strengthen and develop the country, we have to follow the Constitution of Pakistan.” Noting that he had been elected unanimously by the National Assembly, Gillani called on the media to play the role of the opposition. “It should correct us if we make mistakes. We want media to be free and there should be constructive criticism,” he said.Dismissing allegations that the PPP is not a “democratic party”, Gillani said he had been made the Prime Minister despite not being a member of the Bhutto family.“The PPP and the Bhuttos are the symbols of federation.We have to strengthen the federation and work for Pakistan. If we have come here, it was not without a struggle. The PPP workers have made sacrifices and gone to jail,” Gillani said.“But they did not bend or sell out. There are very few political parties like the PPP which have made so many sacrifices and lost two chairpersons (Zufiqar Ali Bhutto and Benazir Bhutto).”He also recalled that slain PPP Chairperson Benazir Bhutto had wanted to change the system and make the rule of law and the Constitution supreme.“We have drawn up a programme for the first 100 days (of the government) and we will frame more programmes. The ministries will conduct a review within a week and draw up plans,” Gillani said.The documentary on Zulfikar Bhutto, commissioned by Benazir Bhutto, was launched to mark the beginning of a week-long observance of the death anniversary of the PPP’s founder.Gillani had announced last week that Parliament will pass a resolution to apologise to the nation for the “judicial murder” of Zulfiqar Bhutto.The film, directed by media personality Javed Malik, features those who worked with Zulfiqar Bhutto and his contemporaries, including Hafeez Pirzada, Mustafa Khar and others.It also features his family members, including his slain daughter Benazir, and judges, lawyers, army generals and those who arrested and imprisoned Zulfiqar Bhutto.The film also highlights his achievements to unite Pakistan, develop foreign policy and make the nation’s defence “impregnable by laying the foundation of the country’s nuclear programme”.
