Strengthening Parliament only way forward: Pak PM

The holding of free and fair elections to strengthen parliament is the only way forward to overcome the challenges facing Pakistan, Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf has said against the backdrop of a standoff between his government and the judiciary.

"The media and judiciary have become independent and now it is time to give the same status to parliament. I strongly believe that the next general election to be held under a fully independent election commission will strengthen democracy," Ashraf said.

Parliament should be strengthened and the way to do it is to hold free, fair and transparent elections, he said while interacting with journalists at an iftar dinner hosted by him last night.

Without referring to the standoff with the judiciary, the premier said: "Only the people of Pakistan have the right to elect a government, so let them have a government of their own choice".

The premier touched on the need for peaceful coexistence among state institutions. "Be it the army, the judiciary or the government, it is the country we all have to work for and defend," he said.

Ashraf's remarks came ahead of a crucial hearing in the Supreme Court of the case related the reopening of graft charges against President Asif Ali Zardari in Switzerland. The court has set August 8 as the deadline for Ashraf to approach the Swiss authorities to revive the corruption cases.

The government has refused to act on the court's directives, saying Zardari enjoys immunity in Pakistan and abroad.