Former Premier Yousuf Raza Gilani has thanked US president Barrack Obama, Afghan President Ghani, Prime Minister Mian Nawaz Sharif, Chief of Army Staff General Raheel Sharif and armed forces for helping in safe recovery of his son and said Pakistan People's Party was committed to wipe out extremism and terrorism from country.
Talking to media at Multan, on Wednesday he said: "This is very painful for me that some newspapers were wrongly portraying misleading and concocted stories that I have paid Rs 750 million a ransom for the release of my son Ali Haider Gilani. The information published in some newspapers are baseless and fabricated", Gilani categorically denied paying a ransom.
Gilani said the country was passing through a crucial juncture in fighting against extremism and terrorism. He paid special thanks to US Presidential candidate Hilary Rodham Clinton on congratulating him on the safe recovery of his son. She said, "Safe recovery of Ali Haider Gilani through US forces is a gesture of friendship with Pakistan fighting against terrorism". He thanked to the US ambassador to Pakistan on warmly congratulating him on safe recovery.
He said that PPP had launched operation against militants in Swat and Malakand and rehabilitated IDPs in a short span period of 90 days. Some people were crying for dialogues and opposed military operation when PPP had launched operation. The PPP stance has been proved justified launching operation against militants because of Operation Zarb-e-Azb. He said Pakistan could not survive without eliminating terrorism and extremism.
He welcomed Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on approaching Parliament on Panama Leaks. It is a good omen that Imran Khan who had opposed parliament was going to address because of democratic values and culture set by last PPP government. The parliament is the only elected house of 180 million people. He offered the government for full cooperation on elimination of corruption. He said PPP always honoured judiciary and presented themselves before courts. He said that he was not afraid of courts or jails. He said, "He awarded jobs to unemployed youth and his accountability body was Public Accounts Committee but his case was sent to NAB".
Later, those who sent his case in NAB elected him Prime Minister of Pakistan. He said years later, his case has been sent to PAC Chairman Khursheed Shah and his stance had proved true in letter and in spirit. He said the Gilani family was committed with serving masses and the great mission would continue with zeal and zest.