Presidency is part of parliament, says Gilani

Islamabad, Mar 26: Soon after his swearing in as the new Pakistan prime minister yesterday, Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani said that the Presidency was a part of the Parliament and that the Parliament should be strengthened for the betterment of the country.

With President Pervez Musharraf sitting besides him, Gilani said that the results of the February 18 elections was a reflection what kind of government the countrymen wanted. "It's a reflection, the way people voted, of what kind of manifesto and government they wanted to bring to power. I will like to strengthen parliament and the presidency is part of it," The Nation quoted Gillani as saying.

After the ceremony, Musharraf said that he would "always extend my fullest co-operation" to Gillani, and added that the country faced a "difficult period" from militancy.

Musharraf also pledged his "fullest co-operation" with the country's new prime minister, saying unity was necessary to fight terrorism. "I will always extend my fullest co-operation to him. I congratulate him. I believe all forces should be united... because the period which is coming is a difficult period in the context of terrorism, of militancy, of the economy. All sides should work together in a balanced way," Musharraf reportedly said in a TV interview.

ANI