ISLAMABAD: In the backdrop of deteriorating Pakistan-US relations,
Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani has convened the All Parties
Conference (APC) on Thursday to devise a future course of action with a
national consequences.
Sources told Online that Representatives
of Pakistan’s military and intelligence agencies would attend the
September 29 all party meeting called by Prime Minister Yousuf Raza
Gilani to discuss the tense diplomatic stand-off with U.S. and to
decide a future course of action. The conference is expected to discuss
Pak-US ties and the country’s security situation.
Leaders of
all political parties, including those not represented in parliament,
and heads of religious groups have been invited for the crucial
meeting, sources said on Monday. Top officials, including
representatives of the military and intelligence agencies, too will
attend the meeting, the sources said.
Sources told Online that
all the political leaders would be taken on board the government
measures and a future course of action would be developed after
consultation with all the political leaders.
The relationship
between Pakistan and the US has been tense over the issue of Haqqani
network. Top US civil and military leadership have accused Pakistan of
maintaining ties with the Haqqani network and fuelling a proxy war in
Afghanistan. Pakistan on the other hand has denied all the accusations
levelled by the US and said that such statements are counterproductive
for the relationship.
The Prime Minister contacted leaders of
different political parties to develop consensus on tackling tensions
with the U.S. triggered by accusations by American officials that the
military-run ISI had backed the Haqqani network in carrying out a
string of attacks in Afghanistan, including one on the U.S. Embassy in
Kabul.
Meanwhile President Asif Ali Zardari has welcomed the
initiative taken by Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani to approach
political parties and leaders for holding APC for evolving national
consensus on security situation in the backdrop of the latest
developments.
Spokesperson Farhatullah Babar said that the
President commended the Prime Minister for taking ‘a very correct and
timely decision’ in the larger interest of the country.
He said
that it was necessary to evolve a national consensus and the Prime
Minister’s initiative was the need to the time. The President said
that with the spirit of national unity and harmony the courageous and
resilient people of Pakistan have surmounted all challenges in the
past. They are capable of facing the current challenges with hope,
courage and unity and will do so in the future as well, he said.
The
Prime Minister has been contacting political leadership of the country
to discuss security situation in the country and the holding of the APC
of parties and leaders, Farhatullah Babar said. Online
