Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani on Tuesday said that Pakistan was not taking dictation from the United States and was fighting the war on terror in its own interest and it was accountable to its people.
He said this in his maiden address to the Senate of Pakistan after assuming charge as Prime Minister and also vowed to make national institutions supreme for which the PPP had rendered sacrifices and reiterated his resolve to restore deposed judges including Chief Justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry to pre-November 3 position.
He said that Taliban were challenging the writ of the government and were blowing up schools, hospitals and barber shops in the name of Islam and Pakistan was fighting against such elements.
He said the restoration of judges was part of Pakistan People's Party manifesto and late Mohtarma Benazir had also wanted these judges back to their positions and no one should had any doubt on our intention. He denied that any operation was being carried out in the Balochistan.
The Prime Minister also said that he would ask the Chief of Army Staff to give an in-camera briefing to the House and tell about the ground realities due to which the government had to launch operation in the tribal areas and Swat.
The country, the Prime Minister underlined, faced challenges like law & order and economic turmoil and sought the co-operation of nation and opposition members to address them. He expressed his serious concern over the deteriorating security situation in the tribal areas where the writ of the government had been challenged.
He justified that the government had to launch operation in the tribal areas and Swat after they challenged the writ of the government, saying that they would be welcomed if they lay down their arms. The tourism industry in Swat had been completely destroyed and barber and CDs shops were being targeted by those who wanted to impose their own brand of Islam, Gilani added.
He said he considered the Taliban as brothers and urged them to lay down their arms and worked for the development of the country. A single bomb blast, he added, could cause flight of capital from the country and said it was government's priority number one to improve law and order situation.
He regretted the kidnapping of Chinese engineers on Monday from NWFP and said such an act had been committed despite Pakistan having most cordial relations with China. The Prime Minister said that the rights of small provinces would not be abolished and an Ulema conference would be called for eliminating the conflict in Bajaur and Parachinar.
He also mentioned the steps taken for the development of Balochistan province and said Rs 3 billion were given to them in their budget. He said electricity was provided to every union council in Balochistan.
Gilani said that there were 6,700 jobs quota lying unutilised for that province and to ensure that the Balochistan people get their share in jobs, he had appointed secretary establishment from Balochistan and asked him to advertise the posts in a local newspaper of Balochistan and recruit people from the province.
About the Shia-Sunni violence in Parachinar, he said these were actually people from outside who were disturbing peace in the area. The Prime Minister informed the House that foreign direct investment during July-August had increased and remittances had been recorded at a high level during the same period. He said revenue collection increased by 25 percent for the same period. Earlier, the Senators in their speeches welcomed the Prime Minister's presence in the Senate. They highlighted different issues faced by the country including law and order, inflation, load-shedding, atta and others.