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Peace, stability in South Asia cannot materialize without resolving Kashmir dispute: Gilani |
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 LONDON, Dec 2 (APP): Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani on Wednesday said peace and stability in the region cannot materialize unless the lingering dispute of Kashmir is resolved peacefully through negotiations. He said Pakistan desires peaceful relations with India and desires that the stalled Composite Dialogue. “For the elimination of terrorism, regional cooperation was vital,” Gilani told a large gathering of Pakistani community members here at a local hotel, soon after his arrival in the British capital where he is slated to hold talks with its leaders.
He mentioned the successful
military operations carried out in Swat and Malakand against terrorists
and said the operation in South Waziristan was also proceeding with
success.
The Prime Minister said the entire nation stood behind the government in its move to eradicate militants.
Prime Minister Gilani said
Baitullah Mahsood, who was responsible for the assassination of Shaheed
Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto, has also been killed during the successful
military operation.
He paid tribute to the residents
of Malakand who left their homes for the country’s sake and hoped that
FATA’s affected persons would also return to their homes soon.
The Prime Minister appreciated the
expatriate Pakistani community for their generous donations for PM’s
Fund for Swat and Malakand.
He however asked them for a
collective policy rather than individual one by adopting a village in
Swat, Malakand and FATA and then fulfill their basic necessities.
The Prime Minister said at the end
of the counter-terrorism operation in FATA, the government would
announce a reform package on the pattern of the one for Gilgit
Baltistan.
He said the military operation was
a success and the government was trying to bring the people there into
the main stream by providing the people there all basic facilities of
health, education, besides providing them vocational training.
Gilani said today Pakistan was
confronting with several issues including national security, economy
and social welfare and stressed the need to improve them for a smooth
journey to development and prosperity.
He said the government was paying due focus on resolving these issues and would utilize all resources in this regard.
He also mentioned the seriousness
of the government to work for the rights of the people of Balochistan
and assured that their due rights will be given to them as it was their
basic right.
Gilani said in democracy all
political parties were free to propagate their manifestoes, however
said that nobody would be allowed to profess hatred, ignorance and
narrow-mindedness.
He said the constitution of 1973 will be restored in its original form and democracy will be further strengthened.
“1973 Constitution was given by Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and we will restore it.”
The Prime Minister apprised the
Pakistani community of the progress made by country in different areas
and said the government has successfully averted the economic crisis
through its prudent policies. He said the foreign exchange reserves now
stand at 14.7 billion dollars.
He said the political reconciliation was the hallmark of the government and for the first time the two addresses of the president to the parliament were held without any disturbance.
Gilani said the world realized
Pakistan’s contribution for the war against terrorism and hoped that
the pledges made by Friends of Democratic Pakistan worth US $ 5.24
billion, would be fulfilled soon.
He said the government enjoyed the
mandate of masses and was working on the policy of reconciliation for
the sovereignty of parliament.
The Prime Minister mentioned that
for the first time, Leader of the Opposition had been made Chairman
Public Accounts Committee to ensure accountability on democratic terms.
Prime Minister Gilani asked the
Pakistani community abroad to invest in Pakistan’s energy, education
and Information Technology sectors and assured them that their
investment would be safe in Pakistan.
He mentioned different measures
taken for poverty reduction and for the encouragement of domestic and
international investment including the creation of special economic
zones and introducing new investment schemes.
Gilani said in purview of the
government’s petroleum policy, the British Petroleum company had made
an investment of 30 million dollar in Pakistan.
He said under the Benazir Bhutto
Income Support Program, 2.4 million households were being provided
economic assistance, adding other areas including FATA, Northern Areas,
Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Chitral, North and South Waziristan, Kohistan
and Tharparker would also benefit from the scheme.
The Prime Minister said the
government would resolve on priority basis the problems of Pakistani
community in UK including property issues, problems of minorities,
insufficient services of High Commission and immigration related issues.
He said the government was also
seriously considering the longstanding demand of expatriates for
casting the vote during election.
He recalled that Mohtarma Benazir
Bhutto and Begum Nusrat Bhutto had spent their exile days in London
with dignity and activism, and appreciated the services of Pakistan
Peoples Party’s workers there who stood beside them in the journey to
democracy.
Earlier Shah Mahmood Qureshi said
what the people see about Pakistan on television was not the real face
of the country and it was the doing of only a handful of people who do
not want to see the country prosper.
He recalled his meeting with the
British Foreign Minister David Miliband who too wants to seek the
assistance of the Pakistani community and British Pakistanis who wish
to integrate into their new home, while also serve as a bridge between
the two countries.
He also asked them to help remove
the misperceptions about Pakistan in Britain and vice versa. He said on
Dec 11 a Pakistan-America foundation was being inaugurated in New York
which will help bridge the two communities.
Ambassador of Pakistan to the United Kingdom Wajid Shamsul Hassan said the Pakistan Peoples Party has always rendered numerous sacrifices for strengthening of the democracy.
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Presidential address to the joint sitting of parliament |
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Official Results Election 2008 |
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Weather: |
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Islamabad, Pakistan
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Temp:
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29°C
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Wind Chill:
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33°C
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Humidity:
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70%
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