Gilani defends Swat peace deal

Sunday, April 19, 2009

Says Pakistan to share indigenous anti-terror policy with US next month

By Tahir Hasan Khan

KARACHI: Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani has declared that Pakistan has its own policy against terrorism and the impression that the country was following the American policy in the war on terror was wrong.
He was talking to newsmen on Saturday at the Chief Minister House after meeting members of the Sindh cabinet.
Gilani said Pakistan had its own policy against terrorism and disclosed that President Asif Ali Zardari would visit the US next month to brief the authorities there on the anti-terrorism policy. He said Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi, the DG ISI and Interior Ministry officials would also visit the US to brief the American authorities about the Pakistan policy.
Gilani said Pakistan wanted good friendly relations with India, Iran and Afghanistan. He said the Mumbai incident had affected the Pakistan-India relations and now ìwe have again started confidence building measures (CBMs)î. He hoped that Pakistan would succeed in building confidence with India again.
He said the Swat agreement was related to peace and President Zardari had signed the agreement with the condition of peace in the area. He pointed out that the government officers, including those of the Interior Ministry, were freely moving in Swat after this agreement.
The prime minister said the ANP recommended this agreement in the larger interest of the province while it was against their ideology. He said the federal government had allowed the provincial government to negotiate for Swat peace and for providing speedy justice in the valley.
The prime minister said historically it was agreed with the ruler of Swat when the valley was merged with Pakistan that the system of the valley would continue. He said Benazir Bhutto respected that agreement and allowed to continue the old system and later Gen Musharraf also made the same agreement.
Rejecting criticism of the Swat peace deal, the prime minister said there was no big change in the system and pointed out that the names of the judges were different in this system. He said there was Hudood Ordinance in Pakistan and two systems of law already existed in the country.
When asked about the differences between the coalition partners, the MQM and the ANP, over the issue of Talibanisation, Gilani said both the parties had their own manifestos and ideology and opinions but the PPP would make efforts to end these differences.
Defending the performance of his government, he said there were many challenges, including political, economic, judicial, and constitutional and law and order situation and one yearís performance of the PPP was excellent.
He said the PPP government would continue its political reconciliation policy to stabilise the system and added that political stability was linked to economic stability.
When asked about relations with the PML-N in the Punjab government, Gilani said the people had given their mandate to political parties, adding the PML-N had been struggling with the PPP for democracy and the people voted for a change in the system. ìWe achieved the task and want to stabilise the political system. We are making efforts to show political maturity and work together.
Sindh Governor Dr Ishratul Ebad and Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah were also present on the occasion.
APP adds: Responding to a question regarding the demands of Sindh in the context of the National Finance Commission (NFC), the PM said he will consult the adviser on finance, who was on a visit to Japan and China with President Asif Ali Zardari.
The prime minister said the government functionaries, including the secretary Interior and the IG NWFP, had visited Bazaars in Swat on Friday and met the people. However, there was still room for improvement.