By NNN-APP,
Islamabad : Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani Monday said he has taken the political leadership of the country into confidence on the Kerry-Lugar bill, as he believed that there was a remedy to every wrong.
Regarding his marathon talk to political leaders on Sunday about the Kerry-Lugar bill, the Prime Minister said in his talks there was a unanimity of views on the matter.
He said his discussions were part of efforts to bring harmony among the political leadership of the country and to seek the views of the political leaders on the matter that was being discussed in the Parliament.
“I always feel that leadership is the opinion maker, even if they are not in the parliament, they are opinion makers. I have taken everybody into confidence and believe that Parliament is the forum where it should be debated and a national consensus built and a national response be given on this issue,” he told reporters at the Chaklala Air Base, prior to his departure for a four-day visit to China to attend the 8th SCO summit.
Prime Minister Gilani recalled his meeting with Senator Kerry at the Foreign Relations Committee during his visit to Washington and said he found him to be supportive and pro-Pakistan.
He however said that there were some reservations about certain clauses of the Kerry-Lugar bill.
“But at the same time there are few problems which were discussed at the level of Parliament and there was concern from some quarters as well. And I think to every wrong there is a remedy, and Parliament is the only forum where this thing should be debated,” Gilani said.
The Prime Minister said Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi will be winding up the discussion on the bill at the Parliament and present government’s point of view.
Prime Minister Gilani on Sunday telephoned leaders of various political parties to take them into confidence on the Kerry-Lugar Bill.
The Prime Minister called Chief Minister Punjab Shahbaz Sharif and PML-F Chief Pir Pagara, PML-Q Chief Chaudhry Shujaat, PML-Q leader Pervaiz Elahi, JUI-F Chief Fazlur Rehman, President ANP Asfandyar Wali Khan, PTI Chief Imran Khan, MQM Chief Altaf Hussain, MQM leader Farooq Sattar, MNA from FATA Munir Orakzai, Amir of Jamaat-e-Islami Munawwar Hassan and President of Pakhtunkhwa Milli Awami Party Mehmood Khan Achakzai.
A high level meeting of the country’s top leadership on Saturday discussed the implications and various aspects of Kerry- Lugar Bill for Pakistan.
It was decided that a national response to the Kerry-Lugar Bill will be given at the conclusion of the debate in the Parliament.