Speaker's ruling as per constitution: Firdous

LAHORE: Federal Minister for National Regulations and Services Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan said the ruling of the National Assembly speaker in Prime Minter Yousuf Raza Gilani's case was according to the constitution and the opposition should not criticise it.

Talking to the media at a hotel on Friday, Awan said the opposition had always appreciated the role of Speaker Dr Fahmida Mirza but when she ruled on the prime minister's case, the opposition started criticising her role. "This role of the opposition is against the spirit of democracy," she added.

To a question on circular debt, she said, "We can reduce line loses in the power sector by introducing managerial reforms. Provincial governments can also contribute to reducing line loses by paying their dues."

She said Pakistan had made numerous sacrifices in the war on terror but its sacrifices were not recognised instead $33 million in aid was withheld. "Problems of the masses will increase with the cut in aid," she added.

She said in the Chicago conference President Asif Ali Zardari had openly expressed his views on Pakistan's sacrifices in the war on terror. Awan said she had recently visited Iran to know about medicine testing, licensing and the regulatory system so that the system could be introduced in the country to provide medicines to people at low rates.

"Every institution should work within its limits. If the judiciary is to play the role of judiciary, executive and legislative, then what other constitutional institutions should do?" she asked.