Gilani chides Karzai over accusations: Cabinet sees no threat to country

LAHORE - Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani has chided Afghanistan over the remarks of its President Hamid Karzai accusing Pakistan of a spate of terrorist attacks, and has sought balance in the relationship among the neighbouring countries.

Yousuf Raza Gilani strongly condemned Afghanistan for levelling allegations against Pakistan. "We are an independent and sovereign country, and want peaceful relations with the neighbouring countries besides seeking a balance among these states. Negative posturing by any one does not promote peace and harmony among the neighbouring countries, and it is of no benefit to anyone," the PM added.

This was told to the media by Information and Broadcasting Minister Sherry Rehman, quoting Premier Gilani. She was addressing a Press briefing held here on Wednesday at the Governor's House after the Federal Cabinet meeting which was chaired by the PM. The meeting was also attended by Chief Minister Punjab Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif, CM Sindh Syed Qaim Ali Shah, CM NWFP Ameer Haider Khan Hoti, CM Balochistan Nawab Muhammad Aslam Raisani.

Sherry said that the Premier exhorted that the blame game and negative posturing would harm peace-promoting efforts in the region.

Replying to a question, Sherry said the Pakistani armed forces were fully prepared to face any challenge, and country's defence was in safe hands. "There are neither external nor internal threats to the country, as there  are no reports of forces build-up at the border between Pakistan and Afghanistan. Targeted action has been taken to ensure law and order situation, while no operation was launched in the Tribal Areas. The action is for our own security and existence, and those challenging the government's writ will not be tolerated at any cost," she said pointing out three-pronged strategy being pursued to deal with terrorism. "Development, dialogue and use of force are three heads. Efforts are being made to make innocent detesting-militancy people as stakeholders and are victims just for the reason that they are the residents of the terrorist-target areas. To bring them into mainstream of the national development, talks will be held with them besides initiating development schemes in these areas," she said.

Sherry Rehman explicitly said the government would never hold talks with militants. "Similarly, the government is taking initiatives to take people of Balochistan along by accelerating pace of development in the province," she said, while responding to another question about Balochistan.

Sherry Rehman, who is also Federal Health Minister, said the government would pursue a comprehensive plan to make the country a food sufficient one, especially a wheat secure country. "To actualise this idea, in future no crop will be exported without ensuring that the country has surplus crop. Pakistan faced flour crisis because the previous government exported wheat despite its shortage in the country," she said mentioning that the cabinet discussed various matters pertaining to wheat for over two hours, and approved various initiatives including steps for increasing its production, improving mechanism for procurement, plugging leakages and uniformity of prices. "Matters pertaining to introducing uniform price of wheat in the country and overcoming its deficiency, especially in Balochistan and NWFP, were also discussed. Secondly, it is an international phenomenon and due to wrong policies of the previous government, we have become an importing country, and food inflation is also being imported," she said adding that Rs one billion subsidy was being given on daily basis which would not work for long, as a realistic policy had to be followed to improve health of the country's economy.

She said a committee had been constituted at the federal level for monitoring and controlling prices of essential items while a proposal for setting up a committee comprising representatives of four provinces was also discussed as the provinces can play important role in controlling prices especially grocery items.

She also told the mediamen that Governor State Bank had briefed the Cabinet, and sought tight monetary policies as pumping money through printing notes, like the previous government, accentuated inflationary trends.

She said the matter about giving more independence to OGRA in fixing prices of petroleum products and gas was also discussed in detail and it was decided that it would be ensured that poor of the poorest were least affected while rates increase. "It has been also decided that dependence on petroleum products will be reduced and steps will be taken for utilising alternate energy resources. To promote use of the CNG, which is environment-friendly, 800 CNG buses will ply in nine major cities of the country, and Karachi will be the first city to run such buses," she said.

For energy shortage, she said a 1000-MW coal fired project would be set up in Thar (Sindh) while a comprehensive plan for producing 20,000 MW electricity by 2020, would be pursued while 6000 MW electricity would be added in the coming three to five years.

While criticising the previous governments for its flawed policies, she regretted that no power plant was set up for producing even a single MW of electricity since Benazir Bhutto's last stint as Prime Minister.

Sherry Rehman said a bill for providing $7.5 billion dollars non-military assistance to Pakistan had been moved in US Congress while similar initiative was being taken by the UK for providing $ 480 million assistance, which was reflective of international community's complete trust in the democratic government.

To a question about reinstatement of judges, she said number of superior courts judges had already been increased through the financial bill adding, "We will restore judges in consultation with our coalition partners as per constitution."

Sherry Rehman said PPP had sent draft of Constitutional Package to coalition partners, which had not been returned back with their recommendations. "The PPP will never go for unilateral action in this regard as we are committed to policy of national reconciliation," she asserted.

Sherry Rehman also told the mediamen that the Federal Cabinet had approved amendments in the Family Act 1964 and the Guardian and Wards Act 1890 for providing protection to women about the custody of their minor children at the time of separation.

Earlier, while talking about the holding of the Cabinet's meeting at Lahore, Sherry Rehman said it was the second meeting of the Cabinet held out of Federal capital with the first held in Karachi adding "Holding meetings in the provincial capitals is in line with the policy of providing opportunity to provinces to give their input and in pursuance of traditions set by party's founding chairman Shaheed Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto and Shaheed Benazir Bhutto."