PM vows to wipe out militancy, terrorism

ISLAMABAD - Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani has reiterated his governments resolve to root out menace of terrorism and extremism with courage and determination adding, We are not scared of the non-state actors and will eliminate their oppression and barbarity.
Addressing the flag-hoisting ceremony on the occasion of the countrys 63rd Independence Day here at the Convention Centre, Prime Minister Gilani said, History is witness to the fact that oppressors and oppression are destined to be doomed and the oppressed ultimately emerge triumphant. Prominent among those who attended the ceremony included Speaker National Assembly, Federal Ministers, Services Chiefs, parliamentarians, diplomats, senior government officials and a large number of people from a cross section of the society.
The Prime Minister spoke on a host of issues including challenges of terrorism, threats to economy, power crisis, democracy and the foreign policy. We are the followers of the religion of peace and tranquillity; love for humanity and reconciliation, which is integral part of Islamic faith, adding, however, some self seekers and extremists had created misgivings about Islam through their negative activities.
Prime Minister Gilani said in conformity with the spirit of the Charter of Democracy, the government is also committed to doing away with the 17th Amendment, 58-(2)-b and all other changes, made during the dictatorial regime against the spirit of the 1973 Constitution, through parliament and with consensus of all the political parties.
He said that a parliamentary committee comprising representatives of all the parliamentary parties had already been formed, adding, We are working to restore the 1973 Constitution in line with the Charter of Democracy. The Prime Minister said that the government believed in consensus among all the political forces on important national issues and also wanted to take into confidence all those who supported that approach.
Referring to the military operation in Swat and Malakand Division, he said, We opted for peaceful means to resolve this issue. But we had to take a difficult and inevitable decision to initiate military action in the best national interests when our peace efforts and patience were construed as our weakness.
He said unity and solidarity shown by the nation against terrorism bolstered the courage of the armed forces, which confronted extremists and defeated them. The Prime Minister paid tributes to the military leadership, officers, soldiers and those martyrs who cleared the affected areas of the terrorists at the cost of their lives.
The way the personnel of law-enforcing agencies and the people faced the enemies of peace is a matter of pride for the whole nation. I salute the martyrs, their parents and kith and kin on behalf of the nation, he added.
The Prime Minister, however, added the government believed that a durable solution to the problem of terrorism could be found through continuous efforts to change the peoples perceptions.
We also have to be vigilant against these elements and inform the official agencies in time about their activities so that appropriate preventive measures can be put in place, he added. The Prime Minister said handling of IDPs in camps was a great challenge for the government, which it has been able to surmount with the cooperation of the people and political parties.
He said the process of reconstruction and development would be accelerated in the affected areas. Prime Minister Gilani said the minorities also had to face terrorism, adding, however, let me state unequivocally that the Constitution provides all the civil rights to the minorities. The Prime Minister recalled the address of Quaid-i-Azam to the first Constituent Assembly of Pakistan when he had stated: In the state of Pakistan all the minorities will be free to lead their lives according to their faith, go to your places of worship and practice your religion with full freedom. You may belong to any religion, race and caste, the state will make no distinction amongst you and assured that the government would ensure strict adherence to Quaids proclamation.
Speaking on foreign policy, Prime Minister Gilani said Pakistan was a responsible nuclear power and its foreign policy rested on the premise to have cordial relations with all the countries of the world, particularly with neighbours. Resolution of regional disputes on the basis of justice and sovereign equality is our first priority, he added.
The Prime Minister said the government attached immense importance to the countrys relations with all brotherly Muslim countries and appreciated the governments and people of Saudi Arabia, UAE, Iran and Turkey who had always stood by Pakistan in difficult times.
He said a peaceful and stable Afghanistan was very important for Pakistan, adding, Our government since its inception has made continued efforts to promote an atmosphere of brotherhood and peace between the two neighbours.
The Prime Minister referred to the meeting between President Asif Ali Zardari and Indian Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh in Russia as well as his discussions with the Indian Prime Minister at Sharm el Sheikh and said, I am optimistic that as a result of the steps taken by our two countries, the atmosphere of peace and security in the region will improve and we will be able to play our role as model neighbours on the basis of equality and non-interference in each others affairs.
He said the peaceful resolution of the Kashmir dispute was a corner stone of our foreign policy. The Prime Minister said relations between the US and Pakistan had a special significance for the world peace. He appreciated and commended the statements of President Obama with regard to relations with Pakistan.
He said an early approval of the Kerry-Lugar Bill and legislation concerning Reconstruction Opportunities Zones by the American Congress would further improve and strengthen relations between the two countries.
Our foreign policy also aims at gaining access to the markets of USA and European countries, especially UK, Germany and France, he added.
The Prime Minister referred to the historic Sino-Pak ties and said the sapling of friendship with China, planted by Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, has blossomed into a strong tree under whose shadow the governments and people of both the countries could live in peace despite the difficult prevailing environment.
He said that only an independent Parliament could nurture the real spirit of democracy. In this context the government has extended full cooperation to the representative democratic institutions, he added.
Our government has great respect for the Parliament and considers itself accountable to the parliament for all its actions and performance, he added.
The Prime Minister said in consonance with the governments policy all the institutions were working within their assigned roles.
Parliament enjoys the power to legislate and judiciary is independent in providing justice to the people. I am confident that the decision of the Judiciary will go a long way in protecting the rights of the people. Similarly, the administrative machinery of the government will also work for promoting the welfare of the people, he added.
Prime Minister Gilani said the second challenge after terrorism was economy, particularly the power crisis, adding the global recession had also severely affected the countrys economy.
He said as the government had to shift the countrys resources in fighting terrorism, education, health and other social sectors were suffering.
He, however, assured that after the current operation against terrorism, it would be our top priority to unveil projects that aimed at improving the living standards of the people and promoting their welfare and ensuring their timely completion to implement PPP manifesto. We have inherited economic crisis. Our government has made several moves to save the masses from adverse impact of the global recession and has taken some difficult decisions for which we even had to seek support from world institutions, he said.
As a result of these efforts, he said, economic indicators had improved indicating a robust economy in the future. Prime Minister said the government was aware that people had been adversely affected by loadshedding and it had also hampered industrial development.
We are determined to end loadshedding and a comprehensive plan had been firmed up in this regard. We will soon be able to surmount this problem due to the steps taken by the government to enhance generation of electricity, he added.
Prime Minister Gilani speaking on Balochistan problems held out an assurance to the people of Balochistan that the government was making earnest endeavours to resolve their problems and end their sense of deprivation.
The current situation in Balochistan is a result of the neglect of 62 years. Lack of democracy also deepened the sense of frustration of Balochistans people. The dictatorial regimes always looked at this development as a purely administrative problem and tried to tackle it through use of force, he added.
The Prime Minister said recently NFC had been re-constituted and added, he was sure that the new NFC Award would ensure adequate compensation to the provinces with regard to their financial needs and rights.
We will also initiate appropriate steps to improve the situation in Balochistan in the light of the recommendations of the Joint Parliamentary Committee, he added. The Prime Minister said he was also optimistic that through the efforts of Council of Common Interests (CCI) the government would make headway in ameliorating the lot of our Baloch brethren.
Not only the resources of Balochistan but the federal governments funds too will be spent on the development of the province, he added. The Prime Minister also assured the people of Northern Areas that the government was fully aware of their problems and will do everything possible to address their genuine grievances.
Prime Minister Gilani recalled his address on Independence Day last year when he promised restoration of the judges of the superior courts and said, By the Grace of God that pledge has been redeemed in line with the wishes of the people and a firm foundation laid for the independence of judiciary.
Similarly, he said, the present government is committed to ensuring freedom of expression and is taking significant measures in this regard, adding, the first Bill that was adopted by the Parliament after the formation of our government pertained to repealing amendments to PEMRA Ordinance. The Bill removed all threats to the newspapers, the Prime Minister said and added the procedure for obtaining licence for electronic media channels had also been simplified and all kinds of government interference in the editorial policy of the media has been discarded.
The Prime Minister said it was a blessing of God that the realistic policies of the government succeeded in achieving record wheat and rice crops. We adopted a farmer-friendly policy by increasing support price for wheat. The Agriculture Development Bank has recently announced Benazir Tractor Scheme under which tractors will be provided to the farmers on subsidized rates.
He said that the government had also initiated Benazir Bhutto Income Support Programme for the poor sections of the society.
It really is a transparent programme which is regarded as a commendable step at the international level. This programme is directly benefiting the low-income groups, he said.
He said the government had enhanced the minimum wage from Rs 4000 to Rs6000, moreover, keeping in view the difficulties of the contract employees in grade 1-15, the government has made them permanent. The Prime Minister said the government had also decided to reinstate with original seniority of all those government servants who were removed from service in 1996, a decision which is in the process of implementation. He said as health and education were the governments top priorities, the new education policy envisaged Education For All as its main thrust.
Prime Minister said efforts were underway to provide adequate health facilities to the people We are considering to launch Health Insurance Scheme. Hopefully, these efforts will produce good results, he added. Prime Minister said after independence, Pakistani nation passed through numerous upheavals, particularly the period under dictatorship has been very trying.
It is through the sacrifices rendered by Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto, dedicated party workers and other democratic forces of the country that dictatorship has been banished from this country.
He said the entire world acknowledged the fact that Bibi Shaheed, by sacrificing her life, had left such an example of martyrdom which would always serve as a beacon of light for the masses in future. He said, since sixty-two years of the journey that they embarked upon on August 14, 1947, the brave Pakistani nation has always upheld the lofty principles of unswerving determination, perseverance and faith bequeathed by Quaid-i-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah and has never allowed this flame to diminish.
The 70 million youth of the country are our valuable human asset who can propel the country to new vistas of development and prosperity, the Prime Minister said and added, It is my faith that whatever we are, we owe it to Pakistan.
Prime Minister said ensuring stability of the institutions and achieving consensus on the administrative and political level was the governments top priority.