Says Chechens, Uzbeks and Tajiks present in tribal areas; Zardari House doesn't dictate him; coalition to remain intact ISLAMABAD  - Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani has said that foreigners are present in the tribal areas and incidents like 9/11 could happen again. He expressed these views while talking to journalists at Prime Minister Secretariat on Monday. Prime Minister Gilani said Chechens, Uzbeks, Tajiks and other foreigners are present in Pakistan's tribal region, adding that their activities are increasing day by day thus hinted that repeat of 9/11 incidents is on the cards. However, he said United States is supporting Pakistan's three-pronged policy in war against terror. Gilani said the US has its own concerns over the involvement of foreign elements in terrorist activities on Pakistani soil so that there are no major mishaps in future. Premier said terrorists should be separated from the people who want peace in their areas. He made it clear that Pakistan is a sovereign state, urging nobody will be allowed to interfere in its internal affairs. Abrar Saeed From Islamabad adds: Brushing aside the impression that he is taking dictates from Zardari House, Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani has said that he is independent in his decisions. However, on party matters he did follow the decisions of party Co-Chairman Asif Ali Zardari, which were also made in consultations with the central leadership of the party, he added. Responding to media persons after the awards distribution ceremony of National Highway and Motorway Police (NH&MP) here at Prime Minister Secretariat Auditorium on Monday morning, Premier Gilani said Parliament was sovereign in its decisions and the government believed in consultation with all the parties. To a question about the deadlock with main coalition partner PML-N, Gilani said that he had telephonic conversation with Mian Nawaz Sharif on cabinet expansion and PML-N Quaid had assured that his party would continue supporting the coalition government and also agreed to the point that all the contentious issues should be resolved through dialogue. The Prime Minister said that on the appointment of chairmen of standing committees and parliamentary secretaries Mian Nawaz Sharif had assured that he would task party leader Ch Nisar Ali Khan to hold talks with PPP. He once again reiterated that four-party alliance would remain intact and PML-N would not part ways with them. To a question about expansion in the federal cabinet, Gilani said that more induction in the cabinet would be made in consultation with the coalition partners. To another question he said that decision on MQM induction into federal cabinet was not made yet and in that connection too consultation with coalition partners would be made. When pointed out that PML-Q leaders Ch Shujaat Hussain and Mushahid Hussain Syed were opposing the UN probe into Benazir Bhutto assassination, the Premier said that both those leaders should keep in mind that demand of probe into Benazir's assassination was made unanimously by the Parliament. He said that the United States supported his government's policy on combating terrorism and extremism in the country. However, Gilani said the US had its own concerns over the involvement of foreign elements in terrorist activities on Pakistani soil. He further said that terrorists should be separated from the people who wanted peace in their areas. The Prime Minister recalled that he was the first head of the government unanimously elected by the Parliament. He said he would soon address the nation about the government's performance in its first 100 days after taking the cabinet into confidence. Earlier, addressing at the annual award distribution function of NH&MP, Gilani said the government supported elimination of VIP culture from public departments to ensure discipline based on equity. He stressed the need of abolishing the practice of VIP culture from all segments of society, and for bringing order and discipline into full practice. The Prime Minister urged the need for developing the country's highway and traffic system at par with international standards in terms of rule observance, road safety and traffic sense. He called for inculcating among the masses the sense of following rules and regulations, not only on roads but also in every discipline of their lives. He highlighted the need for launching special drives to educate people on hazards of over speeding and use of seatbelts to avoid fatal accidents. He expressed satisfaction over the NH&MP for ensuring orderly behaviour among the motorists and commuters, and their polite yet firm handling with road users. He coined a new slogan for NH&MP as 'National roads for one nation' to depict the symbol of unity among all provinces. He asked the departments to observe provincial, minority and women quotas at all cost while recruiting staff, and particularly asked NH&MP to ensure 10 per cent quota for women in its department. Inspector General NH&MP Muhammad Raffat Pasha highlighted various achievements of NH&MP since its inception in 1997 and said for the first time a "corruption-free, soft police" was introduced in country's history. He said due to efficient performance of motorway police, the rate of accidents had declined by 70 per cent and the crime rate by 80 per cent. He said in future, the construction of N-75 from Islamabad to Murree Expressway and N-35 from Hassan Abdal to Mansehra Dual Carriageway were on cards. He said the officials are trained to adopt a service-oriented and public friendly attitude to facilitate the road users. He mentioned other services of NH&MP including 24-hour helpline 130, ambulances with paramedics, patrol vehicles equipped with first aid and mobile workshop with mechanics. Pasha said the motorway police also coordinated with the Narcotics as well as Food Departments to check smuggling of flour. He also mentioned the humanitarian efforts of NH&MP due to which 423 lost or runaway children have so far been united with their parents. Secretary Communication Saifullah Sherwani pointed out the need for equitable and community-based police for the welfare of people. He urged the need for enforcing even strict laws in the country and violation to be dealt by the officials politely but firmly. Earlier, the Prime Minister conferred awards on the senior officials and patrolling officers of NH&MP for their professional excellence.