Prime Minister rejects foreign medias criticism of ISI

[Naveed Yaseen]

ISLAMABAD (April 03 2009): Prime Minister Syed Yousuf 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 recognised 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 Newss 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. They were friends, how they are seeing faults in it now. The countrys army is highly professional and pro-democratic, 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 for 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 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.

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