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Summary
Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani on Wednesday said Pakistan has always favoured dialogue against a war and appreciated Indias intention to resume dialogue. Reiterating Pakistans stance for resumption of dialogue, Gilani said politicians make bridges not walls and noted the consent of the Indian Congress party to resume the four years old stalled peace process. I appreciate Indias intention to resume talks, he said and added the threat perception regarding India necessitated the need for a dialogue to resolve all outstanding issues between the two countries, he added. There is an intention that we say that there will be no war. But intentions can change anytime. There is a threat perception, thats why we want dialogue, Gilani said in interview with Dunya News. He was responding to a question regarding the threat perception by the Army Chief in a statement made in Brussels that Pakistan Army was India-centric while President Zardari had earlier stated there was no threat from India. The Prime Minister said naturally the two countries armed forces were centered towards each other.Gilani recalled his earlier meeting with Indian Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh who invited him to visit Jaipur that was Gilanis favourite Indian city. However Gilani said it was their turn to visit and added he would formally invite Manmohan to visit Pakistan when they meet again. The Prime Minister when asked about his stance on the no first use of nuclear weapons, being the new head of the National Command Authority, said I will not comment.Gilani said Pakistan was a responsible state and would adhere to the policy of minimum deterrence. We know our limits. We have a national policy on National Command Authority and we have comprehensive policy on national security, he added. Regarding appointment of new army chief, the Prime Minister said no decision has yet been taken as there was a lot of time before the COAS completes his tenure by the years end. Asked about any decision on extension to the current army chief General Kayani, the Prime Minister said I dont want to comment. It is much before time. Gilani described the Chief of Army Staff as highly professional and pro-democracy, having good relations with the government.The prime minister -- when asked about his governments policy of not awarding extensions to civil bureaucrats -- said there are no hard and fast rules and extensions are made where necessary in rare situations. He said the army chief has had several meetings with the President, who is also the supreme commander of the countrys armed forces. When asked if there were any issues between the President and the army, the prime minister said a true friendship starts after a quarrel. Regarding appointment of a new chief of Inter Services Intelligence in place of Lt Gen Ahmad Shuja Pasha who is due to retire next month, Gilani said we will cross the bridge when it comes. Asked about implementation of the decision of Supreme Court on the National Reconciliation Ordinance, Gilani said the government has respected the verdict. Our ministers are going from post to pillar; giving strength to democracy, strength to judiciary, he added. Gilani said his government never approved the NRO, nor defended it. He reiterated his respect for the institutions under the constitution and said if these continue to work in their ambit, nothing will go wrong. He said the President has the immunity under the constitution. However as far as charges against the ministers were concerned, he said allegations are mere allegations. We cannot ask anyone to leave the office on such basis. The one who has the immunity, should use it, the rest should face the courts, he said. Even President Musharraf levelled allegations against the Chief Justice, on which he took the right stand to prove himself true, Gilani said and added we are following the Chief Justice. Asked about the action being taken by the government on Supreme Courts decision against the former Attorney General for stopping cases in the Swiss Courts, the prime minister said the Supreme Court did not define what action should we take against the former Attorney General. He said the decision in this regard was vague and added that the only option he has is to hold him responsible for misconduct if proven and refer it to the Bar Council. However he said that since the matter was under review and subjudice, he would not comment.Regarding re-opening of cases in Swiss Courts, Gilani said the cases which cannot be opened in the country, cannot be opened abroad. About removal of the Chairman National Accountability Bureau, under the same SC decision, the prime minister said according to the court he could work till the appointment of the next chairman. However pointed that appointment and removal of Chairman NAB has to be treated like that of a judge of the court and has to be referred to the Supreme Judicial Council. We are supporting the NAB, they can take action against anyone, apart from those who have constitutional immunity. On the issue of appointment of judges, the Prime Minister said the President, on his advise had written to the Chief Justice. While the law minister, soon after his recovery from ill health, will examine the 12-page response from the Chief Justice. On the issue of appointments in BPS-22, Gilani said the matter was subjudice. About his discretionary powers, he recalled recent appointment of Naval and Air Chiefs and said many were superseded in the process. About relations with PML-N chief Nawaz Sharif, Gilani said he is not standing with me ... he is standing for democracy, for the system and has a desire that institutions are not weakened and democracy does not derail. The prime minister said Nawaz Sharif has confidence in him as he wants the system to continue. I offered him olive branch and to move forward on the Charter of Democracy, with the consent of the President, he said. Gilani advised Sharif to contest the NA-123 polls and be part of the parliament. He recalled his latest telephonic talk with Sharif and the ANP Chief Asfandyar Wali and hoped that the two parties would soon agree on a new name for NWFP.He said Nawaz Sharif also wants to meet the President, but only after some progress was made on the Charter of Democracy. The prime minister said the constitutional committee would make its recommendations about the appointment of judges and may also take into consideration the Charter of Democracy. Gilani said it could not be definitely stated whether the decision of the committee would be announced on March 23 or any other date. He said he would not like to prejudge the outcome as the committee was totally free to work without any interference and should make some positive headway before the results were announced. He said the coalition government wants to take the provinces together as they are not interested in the removal of 58-2(b), the 17th amendment and the bar on third time prime minister. Prime Minister Gilani when asked about the deteriorating law and order situation in Karachi where 161 people have been killed in two months as compared to 262 in 2009 condemned these. He attributed the deaths, including target killings, to a number of causes including unemployment and global economic crisis and said steps were being taken to prevent these. He said the coalition with the MQM was intact.On electricity shortage, the Prime Minister said governments short term projects would take three years to complete, while efforts were on to import 1100 Megawatt electricity from Iran. On budgetary shortfall, Gilani said the issue was discussed with Friends of Democratic Pakistan and some had already honoured their pledges for financial assistance. He said Coalition Support Fund amounting to US$ two billion might be increased to US$ three billion in June. Gilani said a commission would soon be formed to inquire into the killing of Nawab Akbar Bugti. The Prime Minister described Dr Aafia Siddiqui as daughter of the nation and said the government would continue diplomatic efforts to seek her release from the US authorities. Asked if the government would welcome former President Musharrafs return to the country, Gilani said, If judiciary, media and Mian Sahib [Nawaz Sharif] do it, so shall we.
