PM takes Senate into confidence over strategic dialogue

ISLAMABAD Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani, Wednesday, hinted formation of judicial commission on missing persons issue and vowed to pursue consensus policies on national security, Kashmir and nuclear assets. While addressing the Upper House, the premier said that participation of Army and ISI chiefs in the strategic dialogue with the USA demonstrated that both Army and ISI fully supported the Government. He assured that the Government would take the Parliament and nation into confidence over the outcome of the dialogue. The prime minister congratulated the Parliament on successful completion of its second year, adding the comprehensive constitutional reforms would be its greatest achievement. He also announced that the Political Parties Act would be extended to FATA once the security situation in the area was improved. He unequivocally said that Kashmir was the corner stone of the Governments policy and maintained that the sacrifices rendered by Kashmiris would never go waste. He said the Planning Commission would be strengthened, adding that he would also request the President to take steps for bringing improvement in the affairs of Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB). He assured that all the provinces would be given due representation in the Planning Commission. The prime minister promised that the package announced for industrial sector of NWFP would be further improved. He also said that all contract employees would be regularised. Gilani said that he had been raising the issue of Indian interference in Balochistan on highest forums. I took up the issue with Manmohan Singh in Sharm-el-Sheikh and also provided proofs to the US National Security Advisor during his visit to Pakistan, the prime minister said. He announced formation of judicial commission to address the issue of missing persons and added that the Government was taking all out efforts for repatriation of Dr Afia. She is daughter of the nation and we surely want to see her back in home, he said. Premier Gilani maintained that there could be no economic growth without peace and that Government was striving on both the fronts. He said all macroeconomic indicators showed the economy was proceeding in positive direction. He expressed full confidence in newly appointed Advisor on Finance. He said meeting energy requirements of the country was the top agenda of the Government. He informed that a special cabinet committee had been formed to determine uniform tariff for getting 2000 mega watts electricity from sugar mills. The premier said that the Government pursued policy of regularising Katchi Abadies. JUI-F Senators boycotted the House proceedings for the third consecutive day and walked out in presence of the Prime Minister. The Prime Minister, in his speech, however, made no mention to their grievances and demands. The House also unanimously passed the Pakistan Institute of Development Economics Bill-2010, aimed at granting degree-awarding status to PIDE. Senators Prof Khurshid, Haji Adeel, Col (R) Tahir Hussain Mashhadi, Haji Lashkari Raisani, Abdur Raheem Mandokhel, Zahid Khan and others drew attention of the Prime Minister to various issues of national importance before his speech. Prof Khurshid said that the Prime Minister should review his inaugural announcements as to how much he had fulfilled his agenda. Senator Haji Adeel said that the prime minister should not sign any private application in the House so that he could give full attention to national issues. Senator Abdur Raheem Mandokhel said that the Government should provide security to Pukhtoons. Senator Humayun Mandokhel said that the Aghaz-e-Huqooq-e-Balochistan Package should be initiated with regularisation of contract employees of the province. Senator Ahmad Ali, Chairman Senate Standing Committee on Finance, regretted that Chairman Competition Commission of Pakistan was trying to influence parliamentarians through TV talk shows.