Gilani seeks removal of emergency-related sanctions

ISLAMABAD : Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani on Wednesday said he has asked the US to remove all sanctions imposed on economic and defence assistance to Pakistan after the state of emergency was invoked in November. Prime Minister Gilani met US President George Bush on the sidelines of World Economic Forum in Egypt last week where the two leaders discussed bilateral cooperation in various fields.
“I asked him to remove all the sanctions imposed on Pakistan in the wake of emergency,” he said in an interview with Pakistan Television.
“The people should get the democracy’s dividends.”
Gilani said he told President Bush that the assistance in defence, socio-economic sector and education should continue.
The two leaders also discussed the cooperation in terrorism and Gilani said he convinced President Bush about the country’s efforts and strategy to combat terrorism.
He said he told the US President that they should strengthen Pakistan’s ability to counter terrorism in its areas.
Prime Minister Gilani said Pakistan was fighting the war against terrorism in its own interest and not for the United States.
He said like every country, Pakistan also condemns terrorism and extremism which are against the spirit of Islam.
“It’s our war as it (terrorism) effects our society, it creates misperception about our country,” he said and referred to the death of innocent people in the fight against terrorism.
On the world’s concern about Pakistan’s tribal areas, he said it was the responsibility of the government to control the area.
He, however, stressed that people of FATA were peace-loving who want development and progress in their areas.
There were only a handful of extremists who, the Prime Minister said, should be discourged.
Gilani underlined the need of addressing root causes to deal with the problem of terrorism.
In this respect, he referred to some 3 million Afghan refugees in Pakistan and said the government has appealed to the world to assist Afghanistan so that the refugees could go to their homeland.
Alluding to the upcoming Paris Conference, he said Pakistan would also try to assist and help create condusive conditions in Afghanistan for people to return to their country.
At the same time, he said, Pakistan was following a three-pronged strategy to combat terrorism and extremism and was holding dialgoue with those people who renounce violence. “Dialgoue was only with peace-loving people.”
The Prime Minister also candidly spoke about the political situation in the country.
On the fact that it is for the first time that party position and the government position are in the different hands, the Prime Minister remarked “Don’t you appreciate it ?”
Gilani said his election as the Prime Minister vindicates the PPP’s claim of being a true democratic and federal party.
“There used to be criticism about the party that they (Bhuttos) do not think above their own self. This time Bhuttos could have easily become the Prime Minister of Pakistan but they thought there should be democracy in the country. Non-Bhuttos and non-Sindhi became the Prime Minister....which shows democracy within the party.”
The Prime Minister was supportive of the view that party position or leadership and the government office should be separate.
To a question, he said good governance in Pakistan had remained a dream which can be achieved by following the Constitution and law in true spirit.
Prime Minister Gilani referring to the restoration of judges said that there is no wrong which does not have a remedy.
He said he wants the restoration of judges on which all the coalition partners agree but there were some legal and constitutional matters involved that need to be sorted out.
About the proposed 62-point constitutional package, the Prime Minister said it was aimed at correcting the imbalance, created in the powers of parliament and other state institutions through various amendments particularly the 17th Amendment.
Gilani described political stability and law and order as the major pre-requisite for economic stability.
He said the people showed maturity in the February 18 elections and gave the mandate to two major mainstream political parties, which are sitting in the National Assembly as coalition partners.
“When they (two parties) move along together, there will be political stability, and political stability leads to economic stability,” he said.
“People have expectations from them.”
Asked if there seemed to be a “power struggle” between the President and parliament, Prime Minister Gilani said the issue was unnecessarily being given attention.
This, he said, was causing concern among the people.
He said election is the biggest accountability and the people of Pakistan are mature and have taken a decision and given their mandate.
“It is our responsibility to take the decision in future. I think the President will respect the majority decision and mandate of the people.”
“We should all respect the mandate given by the people of Pakistan.”