By NNN-APP,
Kuala Lumpur : Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani Wednesday stressed for joint and coordinated efforts in the global war against terrorism and extremism saying the blame game will not serve the cause.
“No one should indulge in blame game rather fight this menace jointly,” the Prime Minister told the Malaysian-based international media here in reference to a query about a suicide attack on Indian embassy in Kabul.
The Prime Minister said Pakistan wants to have excellent relations with its neighbours including India and Afghanistan.
He said Pakistan desires peace and stability in Afghanistan as it is in the interest of both the countries.
“If someone were blaming Pakistan it will not serve the cause,” he added.
The Prime Minister referred to the statement of the United States that it does not see any role of Pakistan in the attack on the Indian embassy in Kabul.
He urged the international community to lend its support in keeping peace and stability in Afghanistan saying it will lead to peace in the world at large.
The Prime Minister apprised the media of Pakistan government’s three-pronged strategy to fight terrorism and extremism that includes dialogue with non-militants and those who lay down their arms, focus on development and uplift of tribal areas.
He said force will be used as a last resort when the tribes and non-militants will violate their agreements with the government.
The focus is on development in tribal areas and Reconstruction Opportunity Zones (ROZs) is part of that effort, he added.
He was of the view that terror could not be eradicated without addressing its root causes such as poverty, hunger and joblessness.
To a question, the Prime Minister said no military operation was going on in the areas bordering Afghanistan as only Frontier Constabulary and police were being used to maintain law and order.
He said US President Bush during his last meeting with him in Sharm-ul-Sheikh appreciated the strategy of countering militancy in tribal areas.
Prime Minister Gilani said that at the end of July he would hold talks with President Bush focusing on enhanced bilateral trade and commercial ties.
Pakistan and United States have multi-faceted relations and the next meeting will strengthen economic cooperation, he added
To a question, he said the government has inherited the problem of judges and the manifesto of PPP and Benazir Bhutto made the pledge to restore the judges.
PPP was also part of the long march taken out for revival of judiciary, he recalled.
He said the law and order situation was normal when the PPP assumed power but then two incidents in Islamabad and Karachi occurred.
“We are tackling the situation. The government facilitated and managed a peaceful long march,” he said adding the conference at Lal Masjid in Islamabad was also managed properly until a suicide bomber carried out an attack on policemen deployed there.
He rejected the impression that the government did not achieve much during its first 100 days.
The Prime Minister will soon address the nation to apprise about the achievements of the government in its 100 days.
He said the government will not put a blame on the previous government about the economic situation.
“We have accepted the challenge and we will put the economy on the right track,” he added.
Gilani said improvement in law and order situation and better economic conditions are his two top priorities.
The spending on law and order has increased due to terrorism and extremism, which has an adverse affect on the economy, he said.
He brushed aside the impression that PPP was not serious in restoration of judges.
“When I took office of Prime Minister, I ordered release of judges and their salaries were issued,” he said adding the number of judges were raised through a finance bill.
Gilani said procedure and technicalities were a problem in the way of restoration of judges and modalities were being laid down to settle things.
The judges will be restored through a constitutional package, which will be moved in the parliament after consensus among the coalition partners, he added.
To a question regarding impeachment of President, he said the issue will be moved in the parliament after the parties reach a consensus on it. “The parliament has the right to take decision on it.”
He denied any problems in the ruling alliance saying PML-N and PPP were running coalition governments in the centre and Punjab.
He said the coalition is intact despite the fact that both parties have separate manifestos and policies.
To a question about reservations of ANP on some matters, the Prime Minister said there is no serious problem among the allies.