Malakand cleared

ISLAMABAD - National Assembly on Wednesday approved 24 demands for grants worth Rs 102.21 billion pertaining to Ministries of Foreign Affairs, Industries and Production, Petroleum and Natural Resources, Interior, Ports and Shipping, and Water and Power.
In all the Opposition had moved some 195 cut motions in the demands for grants for these six ministries and all these cut motions were rejected by the majority vote and grants for these ministries were allocated.
Showing complete solidarity with the civilian law enforcement agencies, the Opposition members withdrew all the cut motions proposed in the demand for grant for Interior Ministry. Opposition had moved some 96 cut motions in the demand for grants of the Federal Interior Ministry.
Showing his gratitude on the goodwill gesture of withdrawing the cut motions, Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani rose to his seat and said that this gesture of the Opposition would convey the message to the whole nation that both treasury and Opposition were standing united in the ongoing war on terror. He added that the gesture was of vital importance and it would give the message to the nation and the international community that Pakistani people were untied on the security issues.
Federal Minister for Interior Rehman Malik on this occasion expressed his gratitude to the House and assured that his Ministry would try to come up to the expectations of the people of the country. He told the House that terrorists had been flushed out from Swat and Malakand division and security forces had secured the entire area.
The Minister said that internally displaced persons (IDPs) would be returning to their homes once the infrastructure in the insurgency-hit areas was restored. He said that 1,592 terrorists had been killed in the operation, while 138 Army personnel embraced martyrdom and 414 suffered injuries. He said that the way the Parliament and the nation backed the government during the operation was highly commendable.
Malik said President Zardari visited different countries of the world and sought their support on the war against terrorists. He said the President was criticised for making the platform of Friends of Pakistan. But time had proved that it was a right decision as these countries had pledged to provide $5.2 million to Pakistan, he added.
Malik said President Zardari’s visit to China was followed by his own visit to that country to seek help and it pledged to provide $290 million to Pakistan for increasing security personnel’s efficiency. Expressing thanks to the Opposition for unanimously withdrawing cut motions and approving demands for grants of the Ministry, he said that the Opposition set a precedent and showed that “as a nation we stand together.”
He said that the government was ready to extend unconditional cooperation to India on the probe into Mumbai attacks, however, he added that India must reciprocate Pakistan’s efforts by adopting a positive stance. He also said that Pakistan cooperated with India on Mumbai attacks to reduce tension between the two nuclear neighbours.
He said law and order was necessary for economic development of the country, adding that allocation of further funds was necessary to maintain the writ of the government. He said after Mumbai attacks, Pakistani government extended unconditional support to India and conducted a transparent inquiry into the incident. He also said that arrest of Kalya brothers by the FIA helped to control rising value of dollar against the rupee.