All reservations addressed, will join cabinet after consultations: Gilani

• Working to strengthen govt to addresses economic situation: Gilani.
• Senate chairman backs govt's Operation "Azam-e-Istehkam".
• He says that there's no option other than military action.
  

JHELUM: Senate Chairman and senior Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) leader Yusuf Raza Gilani has said that the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) has addressed all of their reservations on various issues, The News reported on Tuesday.

Speaking to journalists in Jhelum, Gilani said that the PPP would decide on joining the federal cabinet after consultations with the party as currently, they are working to strengthen the government to control the economic situation.

The former prime minister's remarks come as the PPP has time again expressed reservations over the recently proposed budget as well as on various political matters in Punjab.

Last week, sources told Geo News that the PML-N had accepted all demands of the PPP after the parties' negotiation committees held the third round of talks held on Sunday.

The meeting was attended by PPP's Raja Pervez Ashraf, Ali Haider Gillani, Nadeem Afzal Chan and Hassan Murtaza, whereas the PML-N was represented by Punjab Assembly Speaker Ahmed Khan, Rana Sanaullah and Khawaja Saad Rafique among others.

During the meeting, the government agreed to prefer the PPP for development funds and appointments in administrative posts in Punjab, the sources said.

The PPP has demanded the appointment of an additional secretary in the chief minister secretariat whose job would be to resolve the issues faced by the party only, they said.

The Punjab government would appoint district deputy commissioners, district police officers and revenue officers in consultation with the PPP in the areas where the political party has significant support, the sources said.

Sources said 12 such districts were pointed out including Multan, Muzaffargarh, Rahim Yar Khan, Rawalpindi and Rajanpur. The PPP would be consulted in the appointment of a district officer in these areas, the sources added.

On the other hand, the PPP offered to appoint district officers of PML-N’s choice in Sindh areas despite the ruling party not having a representation there.

Furthermore, commenting on the political polarisation on various issues, Gilani said that all political parties including the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) were united on the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) project.

He also backed the government's newly-announced anti-terror drive "Operation Azm-e-Istehkam" stressing that combating terrorism was as necessary today as it was in the past.

The PPP leader expressed support for the military’s actions in Swat and Malakand, saying there was no other option.