 PESHAWAR, June 28 (APP): Prime Minister Syed Yusaf Raza
Gilani said on Saturday that the Federal Government has full support to the
peace pacts inked by the NWFP Government with the militants for establishing
peace and harmony in the restive areas. He was talking to reporters here at Peshawar Airport before
his departure for Wali Bagh Charsadda to offer condolence to President of ANP,
Asfandyar Wali Khan over the sad demise of his brother Sangeen Wali Khan.
Governor NWFP, Owais Ahmed Ghani and Chief Minister, Ameer Haider Khan Hoti were
present on the occasion.
The Prime Minister said that “We have a coalition
government in the centre and the NWFP, and abide by the peace agreements the
provincial government has signed with the militants”. He declared that the
federal government would not make solo flight and will take the allied parties in
confidence in running affairs of the government.
Expressing regret over incidence of violence after the
peace pacts, Syed Yusaf Raza Gilani said, it should not have been occurred as
the pacts meant to be honored and respected in all forms and manifestations. “We
are a political government and wanted to settle every matter through political
dialogues”, he explained.
He said that pacts were being inked with those
elements who wanted to give up militancy and live in peace and declared to come
hard on the people who wanted to pollute the peaceful atmosphere for the
fulfillment of their nefarious designs. The Government will not allow any one to use its
soil for the attainment of their vested agenda, he declared.
The
Prime Minister said, the government was taking every possible step to
maintain peace and tranquility and reiterated that use of force would be the last
option for achieving the desired goals. He held out categorical assurance
to the NWFP Government in eliminating lawlessness. He vowed to maintain government’s writ at any cost in the province.
He told
media men that since coming into power we have followed the path of negotiations
with the militants and avoided military operations. He said our endeavors are to
bring normalcy in the province through peaceful means. However he warned the
elements challenging government’s writ of stern action.
Islam, the
Prime Minister said teaches tolerance, forbearance for each other and strictly
prohibits shedding blood of innocent.
The prime
objective of the government was to bring prosperity and development in the
country to redress grievances of the people and we want to strengthen state
institutions so that these could play their role without any fear.
He
maintained that we have not got this government in ‘Khairat’ (alms) but after a
great struggle in which we lost a great leader of international repute Benazir
Bhutto. He said the government could only achieve the target of developing the
country on sound footings, strengthening state institutions and protection of
peoples’ rights where there was peace in the country and nobody dared to take
law in his hands. With this view in mind, the NWFP Government has also been
given free hand and the federal government was fully supporting it.
When asked
to comment on attacks in NWFP by foreign forces, Prime Minister said, “We all
condemn it and are against any activity involving foreign involvement”.
In
reply to a question, Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani agreed that socio-economic infrastructure of frontier province received great setback owing
to uncertain situation in the neighboring country, and huge influx of Afghan
refugees during the last three decades. He said NWFP has great tourism potential
which offered enormous opportunities to the foreign investors to invest in this
viable sector.
He said
peace has a direct bearing on foreign investment in the province as foreign
investors would only rush to Peshawar when there was total harmony.
In reply to a question, he said the development pace in Fata would soon be
resumed and setting up of ROZs (Reconstruction Opportunity Zones) would enable
the tribesmen to improve their socio-economic condition.
In reply to a question about impeachment of the President, the Prime
Minister said Parliament was the supreme body and the only forum to take any
decision in this regard. “We are nobody to take any decision in this regard at
our own”, he maintained. However, he clarified that the coalition government
would not take any unconstitutional step in this regard. “We are democratic
people and believed in strengthening state institutions”, he added.
He also
made an appeal to the civil society and political parties to create awareness
among the masses against use of country’s soil by foreigners for the achievement
of their (foreigns) agenda.
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