Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani has said that a high level probe has been ordered by the government into recent spate of target killings in Karachi and its findings would be made public. The prime minister said this here on Thursday when media persons, after the College of Physicians and Surgeons Pakistan ((CPSP) Convocation, asked that there is general perception that political forces have been given free hand for target killings in Karachi.
Gilani said that the country was faced with three-pronged challenges; target killings, terrorism and rehabilitation and reconstruction of the flood-hit areas. The nation is united to help the flood victims and support is also being lent by the international community, he said adding that on terrorism, as proposed by the opposition, All Parties Conference (APC) would be convened soon.
When asked would it not be appropriate for the President to cancel his foreign visit in the wake of floods, Gilani said "you (media) would have created another issue for him even if he (President) has not taken this tour". The Prime Minister was of the view that presence of President was not necessary in the country when Prime Minister, Chief Executive of the Country, and chief ministers, Chief Executive of the provinces are present to take care of the things. Gilani said that the Pakistan Muslim League (N) Quaid Nawaz Sharif should not worry about the trip of the President to Britain.
When he was asked about his reported visit to a fake medical camp in the flood-hit area of Mianwali on Wednesday, Gilani said that Chairman NDMA also accompanied him during the visit and they were received by the General Officer Commanding (GOC), District Co-ordinator Officer (DCO), District Police Officer (DPO) as well as elected representative but no one had pointed out this. However, he said that he directed the Chairman NDMA to conduct an inquiry into the matter and also contact the channel that reported about it.
The Prime Minister said that top priority of the government was to evacuate the stranded people and provide them immediate relief whereas they would be given compensation after the damage assessment is done by the World Bank (WB) and Asian Development Bank (ADB). He said that Nawaz Sharif and his party's sacrifices for democracy have been uncountable and the entire leadership was of the country was united to put the country on road to the Parliamentary system of democracy, he said, adding "I don't doubt anybody's intention."
The Prime Minister said that the previous government had a golden opportunity during the last nine years and could have built the dams but they ignored this important issue. "We are focusing on construction of small dams," he added. About the issue of fake degrees, he said that the government does not support fake degree holders and directed the Chairman Higher Education Commission (HEC) and Minister of Education to follow rules and procedure in this regard.