To share with its coalition partners the findings of preliminary inquiry report regarding terror attack on PNS Mehran, Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani will convene a special Cabinet meeting, however, the date of the meeting has not been decided as yet. Gilani announced this while chairing Federal Cabinet meeting on Friday.
Briefing media on the decisions taken at the meeting, Minister for Information and Broadcasting, Dr Firdous Aashiq Awan said that two separate independent inquiry committees had been constituted to probe the attack on Navel base so that scope of the investigation could be widened.
Naval chief Admiral Nauman Bashir had already ordered an internal inquiry into the attack. Another joint investigation team was also constituted comprising military establishment and civilian law enforcement agencies. The findings of joint investigation report would be presented to the prime minister. However, some of the non-classified portions of the findings would be shared with coalition partners in Cabinet, the information minister said.
Commenting on the visit of US Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton, Firdous said President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani informed her regarding the resolution passed in joint session of parliament on the US unilateral operation against Osama bin Laden in Abbottabad and drone attacks on tribal areas. She said the leadership of the country made it clear to the visiting US envoy that such kind of unilateral operation would not be tolerated in future. She said the US was also informed that drone attacks may affect the bilateral relations between the two countries.
"Civilian and military establishments indicated to the US Secretary of State that Pak-US alliance in the war on terror needs to be revisited as the government will not compromise on the sovereignty of country," Firdous said. To a question on the delay in setting up of a national commission on OBL issue, she said the process of consultation with political parties on selection of head and members of commission had been initiated. "Political parties had been given choice to reach consensus in selection of head and members of commission," she added.
Firdous said at the start of formal proceedings of the Cabinet meeting, Fateha for Hakim Ali Zardari was offered. The Cabinet also offered Fateha for all those who embraced Shahadat in the recent attack on PNS Mehran, CID Station Peshawar and District Administration Offices in Hangu.
The prime minister paid rich tributes on behalf of the Cabinet to those who sacrificed their lives during the terror attack on the base. The prime minister said during his visit to the hospital, he was touched to see the spirit of our Jawans who remarked that it would have been better had they also embraced Shahadat. The prime minister observed that the challenges confronting the country require greater unity among people and leaders across the political divide. She said the prime minister said it has been decided in the DCC to make co-ordinated efforts to prevent and pre-empt acts of terrorism. He stated that the defence and LEAs have been directed to use all necessary means to eliminate terrorists and militants.
The prime minister apprised the Cabinet that the security situation, arising from terrorist attacks and the issues relating to regional security and stability came under review in the DCC, which expressed its full confidence in the ability of the Armed Forces, law enforcement and intelligence agencies to meet the threats to national security.
The prime minister informed the Cabinet about his visit to China. He observed that the visit reinvigorated an already cordial, multifaceted co-operation between the two countries, particularly in the areas of strategic co-operation, defence, trade, economics, investment, science and technology, culture, education and people-to-people contacts.
The prime minister said the Chinese leadership apprised him that even without Pakistan's asking, the Chinese Vice Premier and State Counsellor for Foreign Affairs, who attended the recent China-US Strategic and Economic Dialogue in Washington DC, had urged the US to respect Pakistan's sovereignty and territorial integrity; to recognise Pakistan's sacrifices in the war against terror; and to help Pakistan in its fight against terrorism and extremism, and give it complete support.