Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani on Monday said the word 'accountability' was badly misused and exploited by dictators, including Pervez Musharraf against their opponents, but they failed to prove any case against politicians.
"There are only 34 politicians in the list of over 8000 beneficiaries of the trashed National Reconciliation Ordinance (NRO) and military dictators used the axe of accountability against their opponents," the Prime Minister said while talking to media after the roll-out ceremony of the JF-17 Thunder aircraft, at Pakistan Aeronautical Complex (PAC) here.
All the names included in the list of the NRO beneficiaries pertain to 1988 when we were not in active politics, Gilani said, adding that it took Pervez Musharraf and his aides, over nine years to bring the politicians into the ambit of 'accountability'. The Prime Minister said why media was focusing only 34 prominent names in the NRO beneficiaries' list ignoring thousands of others, who are at large.
"Why are you focusing just 34 politicians included in the list, ignoring over 8,000 others," he questioned. Gilani blamed previous governments for not fulfilling their promises of across the board and even-handed accountability and failure to take to task those who had plundered the nation's wealth and were also involved in several other corruption cases. To a question about relationship between the government and the army after Kerry-Lugar package, the Prime Minister said the government and the army enjoy excellent relationship.
Earlier, Prime Minister Gilani inaugurated the rollout ceremony of the indigenously built multi-role fighter aircraft JF-17 Thunder and formally handed it over to Pakistan Air Force (PAF). Pakistan has formally entered the elite club of fighter aircraft manufacturing nation, after JF-17 Thunder manufacture with the help of China.
Addressing the ceremony, Prime Minister Gilani said with the rollout of JF-17 Thunder, Pakistan has attained a landmark by entering the aviation industry as without achieving self-reliance in the defence production, the goals of progress and prosperity could not be achieved.
"Manufacturing of JF-17 Thunder aircraft is the achievement of an important milestone in our efforts to attain self-reliance," Gilani said, adding that besides opening new vistas for socio-economic development, it will generate jobs after getting orders from abroad. He said the JF-17 programme has provided employment to about 5000 people.
"On this historic occasion, I congratulate the nation as JF-17 Thunder is not only a landmark for PAF but a great achievement for entire nation as it is a national project. This day will be remembered as a landmark in the history of Pakistan," Gilani said.
He said the PAF has played a significant role in the country's defence, in war against terror as well and in crushing terrorists in Swat and Waziristan during military operation.
Congratulating the PAF and the PAC for this landmark achievement, Gilani assured full co-operation, support and patronage to the PAF in its projects. There is dire need of setting up of centres of excellence in other fields like PAC Kamra to attract youth towards a more constructive approach to life that leads to a better and more prosperous future, he said.
He said the government is committed to eradicating ignorance, illiteracy and backwardness to carve a respectable place for the country in the comity of nations. Gilani praised the all-season Sino-Pak friendship saying the JF-17 Thunder project is another milestone of time-tested friendship of China and Pakistan. China always supported Pakistan in socio economic development, he added.
A large number of mega projects have been completed in Pakistan with the co-operation of China including Gwadar Deep Sea Port, Karakoram Highway, Heavy Mechanical Complex, Heavy Electrical Complex and Saindak Copper Project, Gilani said, adding that these projects have become symbol of the exceptional friendship between Pakistan and China.
"I am grateful to our Chinese friends for providing PAF the required technical assistance for the programme," Gilani said, adding that this world that is beset by divisions, anguished by extremism and burdened by the forces unleashed by globalisation, the Chinese calm sagacity, futuristic thinking and willingness to stand by its friends, promised not only hope and stability but also acts as an example for others.
Addressing the ceremony, Chief of Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal Rao Qamar Suleman said JF-17 Thunder is a gift of PAF to nation. "It is a momentous even when we have roll-out this indigenous fighter aircraft, which will serve as backbone to PAF," he added.
He said after numerous challenges PAF took initiative to build a light weight and low cost but a modern fighter aircraft and former Air Chief Mushaf Ali Mir initiated it in 2000. In just 30 months first prototype was built and in three and a half year serial production was started, he added.
He said the JF-17 Thunder a new generation, light-weight, all-weather, day/night multi-role fighter aircraft with glass cockpit, hands-on-throttle-and-stick (Hotas) controls and efficient man-machine interface will ensure a minimal pilot workload.
He said at present there are 10 JF-17 aircraft in PAF and by middle of 2010 PAF will be in a position to build a squadron of these aircraft. The ceremony was also attended by Senate Chairman Farooq H Naek, Chief of Army Staff, General Ashfaq Parvaiz Kayani, Ambassador of China to Pakistan, Luo Zhaohui, federal ministers and a large number of PAF and Army officials.