News
Thursday, March 25, 2010
PM vows consensus policies for security, nuclear programme
* Gilani tells Senate Rabbani’s resignation dealt a blow to implementation of Balochistan package
* India’s alleged involvement in Balochistan unrest raised with USBy Irfan Ghauri
ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani on Wednesday assured the Senate that his government would come up with consensus policies on national security, Kashmir, the country’s nuclear programme, the economy and foreign affairs while taking on board all major stakeholders, including political parties.
The prime minister – who regularly attends National Assembly sessions – was attending the Senate session after a lengthy period.
Without elaborating the mechanism to be adopted, Gilani said the PPP had launched the policy of national reconciliation in light of the “new experience” of a coalition government and because it wanted to develop a broad-based consensus on policies for core national issues and ensure their continuity.
In a bid to substantiate his point, Gilani said the whole nation stood behind the government in the fight against terrorism, and “the results are promising”. He praised the constitutional reforms committee, and said the passage of the 18th Amendment would be “biggest achievement in the country’s parliamentary history after the 1973 Constitution”.
The prime minister described the performance of his government over the last two years as “satisfactory”. He claimed his government was moving towards the manifesto he had given in his first speech on the floor of the National Assembly after assuming the office of prime minister.
Rabbani’s resignation: On points of orders raised by senators from various parties, Gilani said Raza Rabbani’s resignation had dealt a blow to the implementation of the Balochistan package. He said the government had raised India’s alleged involvement in the unrest in Balochistan with the US national security adviser’s visit to Islamabad, and supported its claims with “proof”.
The prime minister described the latest round of strategic dialogues with the US as “a shift in US policies for Pakistan”, and said energy talks were on top of the agenda to overcome the power crisis in the country. He said an economic turnaround was impossible without improvement in the law and order situation, and both subjects were on top of his government’s agenda.
About reforms in FATA, Gilani said once the situation normalised in areas affected by militancy, the government would extend the political system to FATA. He said a balance would be struck in the composition of the Planning Commission by incorporating members from all provinces. The prime minister also defended Hafeez Shaikh’s appointment as the finance adviser, saying the new adviser was a competent professional who would hopefully turn around the economy of the country.
Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk