Gilani fears another 9/11

Says Chechens, Uzbeks and Tajiks present in tribal areas; Zardari House doesn't dictate him; coalition to remain intact
ISLAMABAD  - Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani has said that foreigners are present in the tribal areas and incidents like 9/11 could happen again.
He expressed these views while talking to journalists at Prime Minister Secretariat on Monday.
Prime Minister Gilani said Chechens, Uzbeks, Tajiks and other foreigners are present in Pakistan’s tribal region, adding that their activities are increasing day by day thus hinted that repeat of 9/11 incidents is on the cards. However, he said United States is supporting Pakistan’s three-pronged policy in war against terror.
Gilani said the US has its own concerns over the involvement of foreign elements in terrorist activities on Pakistani soil so that there are no major mishaps in future.
Premier said terrorists should be separated from the people who want peace in their areas.
He made it clear that Pakistan is a sovereign state, urging nobody will be allowed to interfere in its internal affairs.
Abrar Saeed From Islamabad adds: Brushing aside the impression that he is taking dictates from Zardari House, Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani has said that he is independent in his decisions.
However, on party matters he did follow the decisions of party Co-Chairman Asif Ali Zardari, which were also made in consultations with the central leadership of the party, he added.
Responding to media persons after the awards distribution ceremony of National Highway and Motorway Police (NH&MP) here at Prime Minister Secretariat Auditorium on Monday morning, Premier Gilani said Parliament was sovereign in its decisions and the government believed in consultation with all the parties.
To a question about the deadlock with main coalition partner PML-N, Gilani said that he had telephonic conversation with Mian Nawaz Sharif on cabinet expansion and PML-N Quaid had assured that his party would continue supporting the coalition government and also agreed to the point that all the contentious issues should be resolved through dialogue.
The Prime Minister said that on the appointment of chairmen of standing committees and parliamentary secretaries Mian Nawaz Sharif had assured that he would task party leader Ch Nisar Ali Khan to hold talks with PPP.