Pak not to compromise on N-programme: PM

LAHORE Strongly reacting to British PMs comments about Pakistan, Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani on Saturday said that Islamabad was 'gravely concerned about the statements David Cameron issued in India. The PM said that Cameron tried his maximum to please New Delhi by levelling baseless allegations against Islamabad and 'ignored the sacrifices we have been rendering in the war against terrorism. Gilani was talking to reporters after addressing a ceremony held here at electric-transformers producing PEL Plant on Saturday evening. He also pointed out that the British Prime Minister had spoken about terrorism in India but skipped Kashmir issue and violation of human rights by Indian forces along with their atrocities against Kashmiris. He said Camerons remarks were an attempt to hurt the bilateral relations. It would had been better had Cameron spoken on the Indian atrocities in Kashmir also, he added. Gilani further said there would be no compromise on national security and integrity. He said they had told Washington that Pakistan was a sovereign country and its nuclear programme was in safe hands and for safe purposes. The Prime Minister said that Pakistani security forces had been offering greater sacrifices in the war on terrorism as compared to NATO forces. He also said some forces wanted to destabilise the country by creating unrest in Karachi. He also said the incidents of killings taking place in the countrys economic hub, Karachi, were not an act of terrorism. Earlier addressing the ceremony at PEL factory, the PM said that the government, political forces, all the state institutions were unified on the policy on war against terrorism. He said the pro-Pakistan people were falling victim to target killings in Balochistan. The PM said that there was a dire need to change strategy in Balochistan and we should talk to all the Baloch leaders. He also proposed that dialogue with the Baloch leadership was always a best option and the government should hold dialogue with Baloch leaders. He said that all the important issues including law and order would be the agenda of the All Parties Conference (APC). About the electricity crisis, Gilani said that if the line losses were controlled it would help reduce electricity bills. APP adds: Prime Minister Gilani said Pakistan would not compromise on its nuclear programme as it is the asset of the nation and it will be protected at all cost. Speaking to a large gathering at tehsil Sillanwali in Sargodha on Saturday, he said, We have told the US to trust our institutions as Pakistan has given more sacrifices than NATO forces in the war against terrorism. He said, Pakistan wanted its relations with India on equal basis and wanted resolutions of all issues including Kashmir, Siachen, Sir Creek with its neighbour through dialogue and respect. I had told the Indian Prime Minister that dialogue is the only way for resolution of all the issues between the two countries, he said. He said completion of projects and infrastructure development will bring in socio-economic revolution in the areas of Mianwali, Khushab, Sargodha and Dera Ismail Khan.

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