Pakistan premier makes 11 compromises

Pakistan's Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani (L) with main opposition leader Nawaz Sharif

Source: Press TV
http://www.presstv.ir/detail/159392.html


Pakistan's Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani has accepted eleven key demands by the country's main opposition party in an attempt to end political turmoil.

This comes after a week of political ups and downs in the country, with government briefly losing its majority in parliament.

Gilani has responded positively to points made by Pakistan's main opposition Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) party leader and former premier Nawaz Sharif during a phone conversation.

On top of the opposition wish list are probes into corruption scandals and the creation of an independent election body. He also says the government must implement a series of court verdicts against ruling party officials for corruption.

PML-N governs the Punjab Province and has given Gilani 45 days to meet its demands.

Sharif had given the Islamabad government an ultimatum to agree to key reforms or face collapse.

"If the government says no to our demands, then I think it will be a very weak government," Sharif said in early January.

"But we need a strong government, and I think for this, we may need the fresh mandate from the people," he said.

Earlier, Gilani reversed a controversial fuel price hike under pressures from the opposition and his key ally -- Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) party.

The MQM, the dominant political force in the southern port city of Karachi, shortly joined the opposition to protest the hikes, but later rejoined the ruling coalition.

Gilani now controls a slender majority in the lower house of parliament.

The developments also come after the governor of Punjab Province was killed in a shooting in the capital Islamabad on Tuesday.

Experts say Salman Taseer's death is expected to further add to instability in the South Asian country.

Taseer was a high-profile member of the ruling party and a close ally of President Asif Ali Zardari.

Pakistan has a history of military takeovers and political unrest since it secured independence from Britain in 1947.