Gilani calls for national policy on security

ISLAMABAD - Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani has asked the National Assembly to form national policy based on the recommendations of the Parliamentary Committee on National Security. He said this while expressing his views on the floor of the House on Friday. He said Pakistan would adopt the national policy, to be approved by the Parliament after debating the recommendations of the Parliamentary Committee on National Security. He said that it should be a homemade national policy formulated in the light of recommendations of the Parliamentary Committee on National Security. This national policy about terrorism and foreign affairs would be brought in the cabinet. Certainly, terrorism and security are issues of the provinces also and in this regard all stakeholders, including all the chief ministers of the provinces and the Prime Minister of Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK), would be taken into confidence, The Prime Minister said. Prime Minister Gilani also said the national policy should be such which President Asif Ali Zardari could take to the US and tell them that this is the policy of the people of Pakistan and the Parliament. We have certain limitations and have to see what is in our interest and what is not, he added. About the Nizam-e-Adl Regulation, the Prime Minister said Swat agreement inked by the NWFP government only for peace. He said, We have made agreements in the past and will also sign such agreements in future. The agreements in Jirga system have much importance in the traditions of the tribal people and we respect their traditions. The people of tribal areas are loyalist and they always supported Pakistan in difficult times. He said that only some handful elements want to destabilise the country. The Prime Minister further added, We can review our policy if the agreement on Nizam-e-Adl was diverted. We would accept that decisions which would be in the interests of the country. Speaking on the nuclear issue, the Prime Minister said that Pakistans nuclear assets are in safe hands and its armed forces, being highly professional, are the best armed forces of the world which are working under the civil government. If any one casts an evil eye on Pakistan, it will be over all our dead bodies. The Prime Minister said that the country at present is in grip of various rumours and in view of the political situation, the National Assembly should continue its session. He said that he had phoned PML-N leader Mian Nawaz Sharif last night and he had also sent him a letter expressing the desire to hold a national conference on terrorism and extremism with the participation of all the stakeholders. Prime Minister Gilani said that PML-Q leader Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain also called him and desired to meet. He said he would take all the political parties, including MQM, into confidence in this regard. Earlier, Federal Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Dr Babar Awan while winding up the debate on Presidential address to the joint sitting of the Parliament said that the Constitution of Pakistan falls under the Holy Quran and Sunnah. He said that the factories of terming infidels to each other should be closed. He urged all political parties, including the Opposition to join hands with the government to curb terrorism and pull the country out of crisis. He said that no single party could resolve these issues. All the political parties should shun differences and from one party (Pakistan Party) in the interest of the country. Babar Awan said that the issues of 17th Amendment, 58-2(b) and implementation of the Charter of Democracy (CoD) would be resolved before the next address of the President to the joint sitting of the Parliament.

ePaper - Nawaiwaqt