Talking to a journalists' delegation from electronic media at his residence here Sunday, he said that he had been doing a consistent politics and attainment of power had never been his target. "Because I am in favour of a system which could make the democratic institutions stronger," he viewed.
About gas load-shedding in Punjab, the Prime Minister said that the federal government is distributing the country's resources in accordance with the constitutional provisions. He strongly dispelled the impression that Punjab is being discriminated on gas issue. "There is no discrimination being done with any province," he added.
As per constitution, he elaborated, the gas would be supplied on priority basis to the provinces producing this resource and despite the ECC decision to supply gas to Punjab on equal basis and he had also endorsed this decision they could not implement it as the rest of three provincial governments had taken stay-order from their respective high courts in this regard.
The Prime Minister said that Punjab Chief Minister Mian Shahbaz Sharif had requested him (the PM) not to take up the gas issue in the meeting of the Council of Common Interest (CCI) or joint sitting of the parliament but to incorporate it in discussions of the PPP and PML-N committees on the 10-point agenda.
The Prime Minister said the PPP would continue to play its role effectively, no matter, whether it is in the government or in the opposition, as democracy means not to rule the people but to serve them. "Politics is not a matter of one day but a day to day affair, and we will continue to adhere the issue-oriented politics," he maintained.
To a question, he said that he had accepted the PML-N agenda with all sincerity and called upon the N-League to delink it from provincial government. If PPP loses majority in Punjab, he added, it would prefer to sit on opposition benches instead of resorting to horse trading to gain majority, asserting, "We are totally against change of heart or horse-trading."
"Punjab issue should not be bracketed with vital national policy which encompasses all issues including those mentioned in the N-League agenda", he said, adding the government was very much focusing on national issues and working to address these for the advancement of Pakistan and welfare of the masses.
To another question, Gilani said that despite PML-N had parted ways with PPP-led federal government right in the beginning, the PPP had been running the government. The PPP government, while realising a sense of collective responsibility, took on board all its coalition partners on matters pertaining to country's defence, security, foreign and nuclear policy and all other issues of national importance.
The PPP-led coalition government, he added, had taken revolutionary steps, which a party having two-thirds majority could not perhaps take such decisions. He cited that his government, through 18th amendment ensured the balance of power between the president and parliament, lifted ban on third-time premiership, got the country rid of dictatorship through dialogue; resolved the long-pending issue of the NFC and did not make a single amendment or law, which is aimed to benefit an individual only.
He said that they want to see governance like that of the federal in Punjab as well. To a question regarding Nawaz Sharif's hint to go for elections, the Prime Minister said the country could not afford mid-term or general elections in the prevailing circumstances, as all the provincial governments had already written to the Election Commission that these were unable to hold even local government elections following the vulnerable law and order situation due to menace of terrorism and extremism.
Gilani said PPP has strong roots in all the four provinces, the AJK and Gilgit-Baltistan, and its defeat in the general election is impossible.
To another question about Raymond Davis, he said that they don't want to 'hostage' the Pak-US relations on a single incident only. However, the government has made it clear to the US administration that Davis case is in the court and 'we respect our judiciary and will not resort to any such move which is against the sovereignty or dignity of Pakistan.' He said the parliament, government and the entire nation have a similar view on the issue of Raymond Davis.
About Shah Mahmood Qureshi, he said, "Mr. Qureshi is very much in the party and will remain in the party as his future is with PPP." To a question about Middle East scenario, Gilani said that situation in Egypt and Libya could not be compared with Pakistan, where exists a democratic system in which change of President or Prime Minister makes no difference.
Pakistan has cordial relations with Libya, which is our brother Islamic country, he said, adding, thousands of Pakistanis are stranded in Libya and he had directed the Foreign Office to make effective arrangements for their early repatriation. While, the government is also in contact with Turkish Embassy in this regard, he added.