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ISLAMABAD, Apr 2 (APP): Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani on Thursday rejected the criticism of foreign media against the army and ISI saying the countrys armed forces are highly professional and its premier intelligence agency drew praise for its work in the past. Our army is one of the most powerful in the world and the world has recognized the pioneering efforts of ISI which worked very closely with CIA during the war with Russia. They were appreciated at that time, he said in AAJ televisions programme Live with Talat telecast on Thursday night.
To a question, the Prime Minister said all national institutions including parliament, army, judiciary and ISI are working within their set parameters.
To a question about criticism on ISI and other institutions in the US media, he said, ISI had worked with the CIA of United States. They were friends, how they are seeing faults in it now. The countrys army is highly professional and pro-democracy which sent the dictatorship packing.
He said those forces who do not tolerate to see Pakistan as a nuclear state, may be conspiring by unleashing a propaganda, that Pakistan has no institutions, its media and judiciary is not free and army is weak.
Foreign financial assistance does not mean that the government will compromise on the countrys sovereignty, self-respect and dignity, Gilani added.
The Prime Minister said PPP and PML-N will work together on the bare minimum agenda of promotion of democracy, building of institutions, strengthening of parliament and good governance.
We want to deliver to the nation. There is poverty, hunger and disease, law and order situation, terrorism and we have to fight them together.
However, he said, PPP and PML-N are two different parties which will not merge as they have different ideologies, manifestos and programmes.
About the PPP governments relations with PML-N and the recent political tensions, he said, it was not a personal fight. There is a difference of opinion on political matters. When you agree to disagree it is democracy.
He urged all political forces to work on two point agenda of controlling the law and order situation and to build up the economy.
He clarified that he was not in favour of the Governors rule but when the party took a decision he had to take the party line.
It was my opinion but I have to carry the party with me. I was part of the decision, he added saying the result of Governors rule was not useful rather it was counterproductive.
He said Peoples Party will decide in its CEC meeting about becoming part of the Punjab government in which earlier it was a coalition partner.
The Prime Minister informed that a parliamentary committee would be formed to implement the charter of democracy and rectify the balance between powers of the President and parliament.
Gilani assured that President Zardari will sign on the regulations of Nizam-e-Adl for Swat after restoration of peace in the area.
He said United States has been told that army action is not the solution to thwart terrorism and they have to focus on development.
The US has agreed to our three pronged strategy of dialogue, development and deterrence. You have to win the minds and hearts of the people and you look after their welfare.
The Obama administration is moving the Kerry-Lugar bill through Congress to assist Pakistan in the establishment of Reconstruction Opportunity Zones (ROZs) in tribal areas where there will be development, access to market, infrastructure and facilities of health and education, he added.
To a question about rising voices for accountability of former president Pervez Musharraf, he said there should be accountability in the country and everybody will go through this process.
About the ongoing process of political reconciliation, the Prime Minister said, we offered them (PML-N) olive branch. I went to Raiwind myself and I offered them that federal government wants to file a writ petition against the disqualification of Sharif brothers.
It was due to the renewed trust that Nawaz Sharif allowed the government to move the review petition, Gilani said.
As the judiciary was restored and the Sharif brothers agreed to file a joint petition and even those judges who decided against them wanted the aggrieved party to become part of the proceedings, he added.
He said all institutions are playing their role within the ambit of the 1973 constitution.
President and Prime Minister as chief executive are performing their constitutional role and army is working under the government according to the constitution and there is no ambiguity about their spheres of responsibility, he explained.
To a question, he said President Musharraf brought some changes in the powers of presidency and parliament.
We want to undo some of the powers of the President according to the charter of democracy. The President also wanted to return some powers to the parliament as he mentioned during his address during the joint sitting.
In the next session of the parliament, a resolution will be brought in the Senate and a bill will also be moved to give powers to the Speaker National Assembly to constitute a committee for implementation of Charter of Democracy, he informed.
The Speaker has started contacting the political parties to seek names for the committee and the situation will be rectified, he assured.
The Prime Minister said the nation reacted and moderate forces emerged successful in the general election of February 18.
We will take forward the vision and manifesto laid down by Benazir Bhutto. All political forces will get together to steer the country out the present crisis.
It can happen when all the political forces set out on the mission to resolve issues of the country according to the bare minimum agenda set in the Charter of Democracy, he added.
Gilani said the vision for the country is extremely clear that the two former prime ministers Benazir Bhutto and Nawaz Sharif signed the charter of democracy and we should implement it.
To a question, he said it is very obvious that the vision of Quaid- i- Azam was the parliamentary form of government under which the Prime Minister and cabinet ministers are answerable and accountable to the National Assembly.
That is the reason I make myself present during the Question Hour in the National Assembly as we are accountable to the people, he said adding with the constitutional amendments which will be introduced for the implementation of charter of democracy, we will be inheriting the Westminster system.
He said politics is a day to day affair and for any challenges, that will come in the implementation of charter of democracy, will be turned into opportunities.
To a question about internal decision making in Peoples Party, he said, You have to follow the party discipline. When a decision is taken in the party you have to follow the party discipline.
Whether Governors rule was a wrong or right decision you have to stick with the party. When there was a realization that it was a wrong decision, we changed the decision.
Prime Minister Gilani said the Defence Coordination Committee of the Cabinet (DCC) has been activated to formulate strategy to counter militancy.
The DCC headed by him was made effective after 10 years and the cabinet ministers, three armed services chiefs and federal secretaries attended the meeting, he added.
Referring to the situation in Swat, he said people in Swat wanted speedy justice and the government will facilitate them according to their traditions and customs.
The Prime Minister said his message to the people of Swat is that the government is serious about political dialogue in line with its strategy of dialogue, deterrence and development.
Giving details of the process which resulted in the formulation of regulations of Nizam-e-Adl, he said he constituted a a committee led by Minister for Law and Justice which with the feedback of all stakeholders gave recommendations which were endorsed by the provincial government and the Governor, which then were then sent to the President.
Then we co-chaired the meeting, both me and the President. The army chief, law enforcement officials and others were present and decided to bracket the implementation of regulations with the restoration of peace.
Gilani said any agreement made by the provincial government, Governor and law and enforcement agencies has been done with the consent of the government, therefore it is binding on the government to sign it.
The recommendations of the provincial governments have reached the President and I think soon I will meet with the President and it is his prerogative to sign and approve the regulations.
He described terrorism a serious problem whose root causes are poverty, hunger, disease, lack of facilities of health, infrastructure, absence of job opportunities and absence of businesses.
Those areas which have these problems are attracted towards militancy and terrorists get more organised, he said adding, the militants are hitting the law enforcement agencies and police to demoralize them. I am proud of the jawans who laid down their lives to protect the people.
We are thinking of steps for their welfare, to raise their salaries and pensions, provide them insurance cover and take care of their orphans and widows.
He said the capacity of the law enforcement agencies including Frontier Corps, Frontier Constabulary and police will be enhanced.
About 25000 police personnel will be inducted in all the four provinces, he added.
The Prime Minister was of the view that foreign help to build Pakistans infrastructure and poverty eradication would help the government in dealing with terrorism.
Focus will shift to Pakistan with the donors conference in Tokyo and the meeting of the Friends of Democratic Pakistan, he added.
Gilani said the terrorists have neither any religion nor any country and they are defaming Islam around the world.
Islam preaches peace and the suicide bombers are not doing any favour to Islam, Pakistan and the Muslims. They are playing a very dangerous game with Islam and defaming Muslims, he added.
Associated Press Of Pakistan ( Pakistan's Premier NEWS Agency )
To a question, the Prime Minister said all national institutions including parliament, army, judiciary and ISI are working within their set parameters.
To a question about criticism on ISI and other institutions in the US media, he said, ISI had worked with the CIA of United States. They were friends, how they are seeing faults in it now. The countrys army is highly professional and pro-democracy which sent the dictatorship packing.
He said those forces who do not tolerate to see Pakistan as a nuclear state, may be conspiring by unleashing a propaganda, that Pakistan has no institutions, its media and judiciary is not free and army is weak.
Foreign financial assistance does not mean that the government will compromise on the countrys sovereignty, self-respect and dignity, Gilani added.
The Prime Minister said PPP and PML-N will work together on the bare minimum agenda of promotion of democracy, building of institutions, strengthening of parliament and good governance.
We want to deliver to the nation. There is poverty, hunger and disease, law and order situation, terrorism and we have to fight them together.
However, he said, PPP and PML-N are two different parties which will not merge as they have different ideologies, manifestos and programmes.
About the PPP governments relations with PML-N and the recent political tensions, he said, it was not a personal fight. There is a difference of opinion on political matters. When you agree to disagree it is democracy.
He urged all political forces to work on two point agenda of controlling the law and order situation and to build up the economy.
He clarified that he was not in favour of the Governors rule but when the party took a decision he had to take the party line.
It was my opinion but I have to carry the party with me. I was part of the decision, he added saying the result of Governors rule was not useful rather it was counterproductive.
He said Peoples Party will decide in its CEC meeting about becoming part of the Punjab government in which earlier it was a coalition partner.
The Prime Minister informed that a parliamentary committee would be formed to implement the charter of democracy and rectify the balance between powers of the President and parliament.
Gilani assured that President Zardari will sign on the regulations of Nizam-e-Adl for Swat after restoration of peace in the area.
He said United States has been told that army action is not the solution to thwart terrorism and they have to focus on development.
The US has agreed to our three pronged strategy of dialogue, development and deterrence. You have to win the minds and hearts of the people and you look after their welfare.
The Obama administration is moving the Kerry-Lugar bill through Congress to assist Pakistan in the establishment of Reconstruction Opportunity Zones (ROZs) in tribal areas where there will be development, access to market, infrastructure and facilities of health and education, he added.
To a question about rising voices for accountability of former president Pervez Musharraf, he said there should be accountability in the country and everybody will go through this process.
About the ongoing process of political reconciliation, the Prime Minister said, we offered them (PML-N) olive branch. I went to Raiwind myself and I offered them that federal government wants to file a writ petition against the disqualification of Sharif brothers.
It was due to the renewed trust that Nawaz Sharif allowed the government to move the review petition, Gilani said.
As the judiciary was restored and the Sharif brothers agreed to file a joint petition and even those judges who decided against them wanted the aggrieved party to become part of the proceedings, he added.
He said all institutions are playing their role within the ambit of the 1973 constitution.
President and Prime Minister as chief executive are performing their constitutional role and army is working under the government according to the constitution and there is no ambiguity about their spheres of responsibility, he explained.
To a question, he said President Musharraf brought some changes in the powers of presidency and parliament.
We want to undo some of the powers of the President according to the charter of democracy. The President also wanted to return some powers to the parliament as he mentioned during his address during the joint sitting.
In the next session of the parliament, a resolution will be brought in the Senate and a bill will also be moved to give powers to the Speaker National Assembly to constitute a committee for implementation of Charter of Democracy, he informed.
The Speaker has started contacting the political parties to seek names for the committee and the situation will be rectified, he assured.
The Prime Minister said the nation reacted and moderate forces emerged successful in the general election of February 18.
We will take forward the vision and manifesto laid down by Benazir Bhutto. All political forces will get together to steer the country out the present crisis.
It can happen when all the political forces set out on the mission to resolve issues of the country according to the bare minimum agenda set in the Charter of Democracy, he added.
Gilani said the vision for the country is extremely clear that the two former prime ministers Benazir Bhutto and Nawaz Sharif signed the charter of democracy and we should implement it.
To a question, he said it is very obvious that the vision of Quaid- i- Azam was the parliamentary form of government under which the Prime Minister and cabinet ministers are answerable and accountable to the National Assembly.
That is the reason I make myself present during the Question Hour in the National Assembly as we are accountable to the people, he said adding with the constitutional amendments which will be introduced for the implementation of charter of democracy, we will be inheriting the Westminster system.
He said politics is a day to day affair and for any challenges, that will come in the implementation of charter of democracy, will be turned into opportunities.
To a question about internal decision making in Peoples Party, he said, You have to follow the party discipline. When a decision is taken in the party you have to follow the party discipline.
Whether Governors rule was a wrong or right decision you have to stick with the party. When there was a realization that it was a wrong decision, we changed the decision.
Prime Minister Gilani said the Defence Coordination Committee of the Cabinet (DCC) has been activated to formulate strategy to counter militancy.
The DCC headed by him was made effective after 10 years and the cabinet ministers, three armed services chiefs and federal secretaries attended the meeting, he added.
Referring to the situation in Swat, he said people in Swat wanted speedy justice and the government will facilitate them according to their traditions and customs.
The Prime Minister said his message to the people of Swat is that the government is serious about political dialogue in line with its strategy of dialogue, deterrence and development.
Giving details of the process which resulted in the formulation of regulations of Nizam-e-Adl, he said he constituted a a committee led by Minister for Law and Justice which with the feedback of all stakeholders gave recommendations which were endorsed by the provincial government and the Governor, which then were then sent to the President.
Then we co-chaired the meeting, both me and the President. The army chief, law enforcement officials and others were present and decided to bracket the implementation of regulations with the restoration of peace.
Gilani said any agreement made by the provincial government, Governor and law and enforcement agencies has been done with the consent of the government, therefore it is binding on the government to sign it.
The recommendations of the provincial governments have reached the President and I think soon I will meet with the President and it is his prerogative to sign and approve the regulations.
He described terrorism a serious problem whose root causes are poverty, hunger, disease, lack of facilities of health, infrastructure, absence of job opportunities and absence of businesses.
Those areas which have these problems are attracted towards militancy and terrorists get more organised, he said adding, the militants are hitting the law enforcement agencies and police to demoralize them. I am proud of the jawans who laid down their lives to protect the people.
We are thinking of steps for their welfare, to raise their salaries and pensions, provide them insurance cover and take care of their orphans and widows.
He said the capacity of the law enforcement agencies including Frontier Corps, Frontier Constabulary and police will be enhanced.
About 25000 police personnel will be inducted in all the four provinces, he added.
The Prime Minister was of the view that foreign help to build Pakistans infrastructure and poverty eradication would help the government in dealing with terrorism.
Focus will shift to Pakistan with the donors conference in Tokyo and the meeting of the Friends of Democratic Pakistan, he added.
Gilani said the terrorists have neither any religion nor any country and they are defaming Islam around the world.
Islam preaches peace and the suicide bombers are not doing any favour to Islam, Pakistan and the Muslims. They are playing a very dangerous game with Islam and defaming Muslims, he added.
Associated Press Of Pakistan ( Pakistan's Premier NEWS Agency )
