While putting question mark on the authenticity of released cables of WikiLeaks particularly regarding drone attacks in Pakistan, Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani on Wednesday termed the attacks as counterproductive and said the government was convincing the United States to revisit its drone policy.
"The revelations of WikiLeaks are not authentic," said PM Gilani in response to the point of order raised by Syed Faisal Saleh Hayat wherein he had demanded an explanation from the government saying since disclosures of the cables regarding Pakistan it had not issued any statement.
The premier said that the in 21st Century diplomacy, WikiLeaks has been used as a medium to air those messages which otherwise cannot be done due to lack moral courage. He said that we are a responsible atomic power and have to tackle the issues through logical means. "We cannot behave in any irresponsible way," he added. The drones attacks were provoking the militants to regroup and were increasing our problems instead of solving them. We have asked the US to pass over the drone technology and information to Pakistan so that we could take action, he said.
Hayat had disapproved Prime Minister's statement that drone attacks were counterproductive saying we have heard such statements on several counts and want a categorical statement from the government over the issue. He did refer to leaked cables which had quoted former US Ambassador to Pakistan Anne W. Patterson as saying that the country's political leadership approved the strikes in Pakistan's tribal regions.
Patterson's cable states: Malik suggested we hold off alleged Predator attacks until after the Bajaur operation. The PM brushed aside Rehman's remarks and said, "I don't care if they do it as long as they get the right people. We'll protest in the National Assembly and then ignore it."
In response to another point of order regarding manhandling of Shah Zain Bugti by security agencies, he said that the Chief Minister of Balochistan, who accompanied him in his recent tour to Oman, had given the detailed report of the incident. That report has been handed over to Interior Minister Rehman Malik and he would take the house into confidence over the issue.
However, when Tahmina Daultana of PML-N drew the comparison that Pak Army was like the Indian Army as she was lamenting over manhandling of Shah Zain Bugti, the Prime Minister requested the Speaker to expunge those remarks of comparison. He said under the constitutional provisions no one can ridicule neither the army nor the judiciary. The speaker accepted the request.