ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani on Wednesday said the government was using diplomatic channels and seeking the help of friendly countries to put pressure on the United States to stop the drone attacks.
“We are raising this issue through diplomatic channels and the world is realising that these attacks are proving counterproductive,” he told the National Assembly in response to the points raised by Opposition Leader Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan.
Ch Nisar questioned the government over the meetings of the DG ISI Lt General Shuja Pasha with the US officials in Washington and said the government should tell the National Assembly what mandate he was given for the talks.
He also asked about the release of Raymond Davis and sought a reply from the government on the continuation of drone attacks.
The prime minister said Pakistan is tackling this issue through diplomatic channels. “We are a nuclear and responsible state and are using the diplomatic channels to convince the United States that these attacks are counterproductive”.
He said it was a great achievement of the present government that it had united the whole nation in the fight against terrorism by adopting a rational strategy, which has isolated the terrorists and militants from the local tribal people. “But whenever a drone attack is carried out, it works to unite the militants and the tribal people and this creates problems for the government because no war can be won without the support of the people,” he said.
The prime minister said that the leadership of both Pakistan and Afghanistan was opposed to the drone attacks.
He said in the past, the people used to say that Pakistan was part of the problem but the world had now realised that Pakistan was a part of the solution.
On the issue of Raymond Davis, the prime minister said the entire leadership of the country wanted to settle the issue through the court and he had assured this House that the government would accept and implement the decision of the court. “But we do not understand why this issue is being raised after the court’s decision,” he said. The prime minister said that security and intelligence agencies should not be dragged into this issue as they were working within their ambit. “I am a strong believer of the rule of law; the court has passed a judgment after a deal between the two parties and if the complainant is not satisfied, he can challenge the judgment in the high court,” he said.
He congratulated the National Assembly on the admission of reference in the Supreme Court to revisit the hanging of PPP founding chairman Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, saying it was a great success of parliament. “Through this reference, correction of a historical mistake would be a great success of this House,” he added. Prime Minister Gilani said that the 1973 Constitution had been restored unanimously with the help of all parliamentarians.
He said it is the discretion of the opposition to criticise the government and responsibility rests with the government to demonstrate patience and respond to the queries. He said that under the Constitution, the prime minister and ministers are answerable to parliament.
Describing the passage of 18th and 19th constitutional amendments as a big victory of parliament, the prime minister said that parliament has been made sovereign. “We are the chosen representatives of the people and it is our responsibility to live up to their expectations,” he added.
On the government’s relations with the judiciary, the prime minister claimed that the government has the best of relations with the judiciary and had always implemented its decisions.
He, however, said that difference of opinion is the spirit of true democracy. He said the present judiciary supports the democratic set-up in the country.
On the issue of Geo Super, the prime minister said the matter was in courts and sub judice. “I will not make any comment on it,” he added.
The prime minister said the hike in petroleum prices was linked with rise in the prices of petroleum products in the world market.
About the loadshedding, he said he would direct the minister for water and power to brief the House on this issue.
Earlier, speaking on a point of order, the opposition leader raised the issues of price hike, loadshedding and petroleum prices with particular reference to the strike of CNG stations.
He also expressed concern over the absence of ministers in the House and their indifference towards the proceedings of the House. “We consider this House as the supreme law-making body and it should live up to the expectations of the people,” he asserted.
