MIRPUR (AJK), Sep 18 (APP): At least four civilians including two women were martyred as a result of frequent unprovoked firing of Indian forces across the Line of Control (LoC).
PM meets father of Capt. Asfandyar Shaheed
PESHAWAR, Sep 18 (APP): Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif met the father of Capt. Asfandyar Shaheed here at the Headquarters 11 Corp on Friday.
COAS, Air Chief visit LRH, meet injured troops
PESHAWAR, Sept 18 (APP): Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Raheel Sharif and Air Chief Marshall Sohail Aman here Friday visited the Combined Military Hospital and met with the injured troops.
Khawaja Asif vows to continue war against terrorism
ISLAMABAD, Sep 18 (APP): Minister for Defence Khawaja Muhammad Asif Friday condemning the PAF camp Badhabair terrorist attack, expressed determination to continue war against terrorism with full zeal till its logical end.
All set for the ground breaking of 100 MW Gulpur power project
ISLAMABAD, Sep 18 (APP): Prime Minister of Pakistan Mian Muhammad Nawaz Sharif is scheduled to perform the ground breaking ceremony of the 100 MW hydropower project in Gulpur Azad Jammu and Kashmir on 15th October 2015.
19 PAF personnel embrace Shahadat in terrorist attack at PAF Camp, Peshawar
ISLAMABAD, Sept 18 (APP): As many as 19 PAF personnel embraced Shahadat in terrorists attack at PAF Camp, Badabar (Peshawar) on Friday.
Pakistan confirms its sovereignty issue was raised with U.S. President Bush
Shumaila Andleeb
ONBOARD PM’S AIRCRAFT, July 31, 2008 (APP): Minister for Information and Broadcasting Sherry Rehman on Thursday denied the impression that Pakistan did not take up the issue of NATO missile attacks with Unites States, and said the country’s territorial integrity was certainly discussed with the President George Bush.
“Off course, the issue of Pakistan’s sovereignty and territorial integrity was raised during a meeting with President Bush,” the Information Minister told APP about Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani’s meeting with the US President at White House.
Sherry, who also attended the Oval Office meeting with Prime Minister Gilani in Washington said it was out of the question that a serious issue of national importance be left out without discussion with the US leadership.
“That’s why President Bush in his joint press appearance with Prime Minister Gilani categorically mentioned about US’s support for Pakistan’s sovereignty,” she said.
US leadership supports Pakistan’s sovereignty, democracy: Gilani
Shumaila Andleeb
MANCHESTER, July 31 (APP): Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani Thursday described his visit to United States as successful and said its leadership expressed full support to Pakistan’s sovereignty and democracy.
“Whether President Bush or Obama, everyone in meetings talked about respecting Pakistan’s sovereignty,” the Prime Minister told reporters during his brief stopover at the Manchester airport on his way back home.
He said ensuring Pakistan’s sovereignty was the major focus during his talks with the US leadership.
Gilani termed the visit as successful where the top US administration showed support for Pakistan’s democracy and sovereignty.
He said the Capitol Hill had its role in resuming democracy in Pakistan as many US Senators remained actively vocal about ending dictatorship in the South Asian country.
The Prime Minister mentioned his interaction with Speaker Nancy Pelosi and other Senators, who he said greatly expressed their support for upholding Pakistan’s sovereignty.
He said the government believed in the policy of trade rather than aid with United States which would strengthen bilateral ties.
When asked whether the visit removed any misconceptions on certain issues between the two countries, Gilani said interaction develops mutual understanding, as in politics, “bridges are required to be made instead of erecting walls”.
“Pakistan and United States enjoy bilateral relations for the last six decades. With more
interaction, the misunderstandings, if any could be resolved.”
interaction, the misunderstandings, if any could be resolved.”
The Prime Minister said the Pak-US relationship would now be strengthened on new terms of ‘Peace and prosperity through partnership’.
To a question Gilani categorically stated there was no military action being carried in Balochistan.
Adding to the Prime Minister’s statement, Advisor to PM on Interior Rehman Malik said there was no military but a law enforcement action ongoing in Balochistan, which is quite a normal phenomenon for crime controlling.
Ensuring economic stability, law n’ order govt’s top priorities: PM
Shumaila Andleeb
ISLAMABAD, Jul 25, 2008 (APP): Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani on Friday said the government gives high priority to economic stability and strengthening of law
and order in the country, considering it necessary elements to ensure good governance.
Speaking to senior newspaper editors at the PM House, Prime Minister Gilani said to ensure economic stability in the country, the government even had to take some “unpopular decisions” just to put the country on right direction.
Gilani said his government was aware of the sufferings of common man, but was compelled to take some decisions on increase in petrol prices and food
commodities for the country’s overall economic stability.
He said inflation was not only a Pakistan-specific issue but was a result of global trend in oil prices.
The Prime Minister stressed the need to check the smuggling of food items to control their prices.
He said the government had decided to give relief to the poorest of the poor and mentioned Benazir Income Support Program which would initially benefit 3.8
million people against poverty.
Gilani said the poor people identified through NADRA, would be facilitated across the board without any political discrimination.
The Prime Minister said nobody would be allowed to destabilize the country.
He said his government believed in dialogue with tribals and majority of tribal elders assured of their full support to the government in its efforts in war
against terrorism.
“Ninety nine percent of the tribal people are sincere and committed to the country,” he said, adding some miscreants financed by external elements were
involved in tarnishing peace in the area.
He termed suicide bombings as against the spirit of Islam and most detrimental to the country’s image abroad.
To a question regarding his stance during his upcoming meeting with US President George Bush on terrorism in tribal areas, the Prime Minister said no decision would be taken against the sovereignty of Pakistan.
“There will be no compromise on the sovereignty, dignity and self-respect of the country,” Gilani categorically added.
The Prime Minister said he had focused on the policy of dialogue during his earlier meeting with President Bush in Sharm El Sheikh, reiterating that Pakistan does not consider military action as the solution to this problem.
He said he would expand the cabinet after his return from United States, to ensure the resolution of common man’s problems by taking up their issues on
priority basis.
He said 10 parliamentary secretaries had been appointed, and soon the list proposed by Awami National Party (ANP) and Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam would be announced as well.
On judges restoration, the Prime Minister said all coalition parties were being consulted for the solution, and he would not waste any moment to take the
decision as soon as there was some consensus by the party heads.
The Prime Minister said Pakistan Peoples Party was the symbol of federation, provincial unity and democracy.
He said his election as a non-Bhutto and non- Sindhi prime minister was an evidence of PPP’s strong belief in democratic norms.
On working with president, Gilani said his government believed in balance of power and dispelled the impression that PPP co-chairperson Asif Ali Zardari
influenced the government’s decisions.
Pak-U.S. partnership to be based on peace, prosperity: Gilani
Shumaila Andleeb
ONBOARD PM’s AIRCRAFT, July 3, 2008 (APP): Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani on Thursday said with his visit to United States and meetings with top US leadership, the two countries have entered into a new era of confidence-building partnership.
Talking to reporters onboard his aircraft, the Prime Minister described the visit to United States as “dignified and honourable” that was made at the invitation of US President, which resulted into a beginning of more trustworthy relationship between the two countries.
Gilani said the Pak-US relationship would now be focused on “Peace and prosperity through partnership”.
He said his talks with President Bush covered political relationship, war on terror, army-to-army relationship, economic ties and other issues within the ambit of strategic dialogue.
He said US administration showed interest in enhancing economic ties with Pakistan with setting up of Reconstruction Opportunity Zones in selected areas for the uplift of people and giving them direct access to US markets.
He said the United States has also assured of respecting Pakistan’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.
The Prime Minister said he spoke high about Pakistan army when keenly asked by the US leadership, adding he conveyed to them that “Pakistan army is highly professional, best in the world and supports democracy in the country.”
He also quoted his statement in an interview with CNN in Washington, where he said that US should also do more for Pakistan rather than just expecting from it to do more.
The Prime Minister said Pakistan was in dire need of financial assistance to overcome the economic crises. He said the country was already taking assistance from United States and United Kingdom, and was also seeking the same from Saudi Arabia.
He said before Ramzan ul Mubarak, the government would bring a relief package for common man through providing subsidized items at Utility Stores and through Benazir Income Support Fund.
He said he would direct the provincial governments to check hoarding of food commodities throughout the year and particularly during Ramzan.
This was Prime Minister’s first visit to United States where he met top US leadership including President George Bush, who also hosted a luncheon for him at White House. Gilani also held meetings with Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, Secretary Homeland Security Michael Chertoff, Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson and legislators at the Capitol Hill.
Gilani also had interaction with presidential candidates Barack Obama and Senator John McCain, besides addressing businessmen at a meeting organized by US-Pakistan Chamber of Commerce.
Another highlight of Prime Minister’s visit was to chair the Energy Roundtable Conference at the World Bank, that received tremendous response from the US investors.
The Prime Minister also gave interviews to different media programs including CNN, Washington Post editorial Board and an interview with Jim Lehrer for News Hour. He also addressed at a think-tank event organized by Council on Foreign Relations, where he responded to several issues of Pak-US interest.
Another action that took place on the occasion of PM’s visit was the unanimous approval of the Biden-Lugar Bill by U.S. Foreign Relations Committee, committing 15 billion dollars of development assistance to Pakistan over next decade.