News
Wednesday, April 18, 2012
Gilani asks ANF not to cross limits* Prime minister says ANF is a civilian department of federal government and none of its officers have authority to dictate prime minister
* Force has no power to check list of prime minister’s guests
* Rejects Punjab CM’s stance over ‘Saraiki Bank’
LAHORE: Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani on Tuesday said the Anti-Narcotics Force (ANF) had no authority to dictate the prime minister, who was elected by 180 million people of the country.
He was talking to reporters after the 11th convocation of the University of Central Punjab (UCP) at the Expo Centre. Gilani also said the ANF was a civilian department of the federal government which had its minister, secretary and director-general. The ANF officers should consider his jurisdiction.
To a question about Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif’s objection to proposed Saraiki Bank, Gilani said that establishment of a bank needed a thorough process, adding that Chinese banks had also opened many branches in Pakistan, however, establishing a bank was a federal subject and provinces had no role in it.
The prime minister condemned recent terrorist attacks in Afghanistan and Bannu. He also paid tributes to military officials and civilians trapped in an avalanche on the Siachen Glacier and prayed for their safe recovery.
“I have convened a meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Defence today evening (Tuesday) where departments concerned will give a briefing on the rescue operation at Siachen,” he maintained.
To a question about the possibility of a Pak-India consensus on withdrawal of troops on their respective sides at Siachen, the prime minister said that during his meetings with Indian counterpart Manmohan Singh, he had talked about resolving all issues, including Kashmir, Siachen, Sir Creek, water and terrorism, through dialogue.
About target killings in Quetta and Gilgit-Baltistan, the premier said that to protect the people and their property was the prime responsibility of the state, asserting that maintenance of law and order was now purely a provincial subject, however, the federal government was extending its full support and cooperation to the provinces to control crime.
To another question, he said, “We do not have the habit of criticising our predecessors. The PPP has a track record of accepting challenges facing the country and their viable solutions.”
Gilani said, “Educated societies, in the modern era, have predominantly endorsed the democratic form of government against any other. I believe that democracy is the best system of governance for multi-ethnic, multi-linguistic and pluralistic societies such as Pakistan’s, as it encourages participatory arrangements and accommodates opposite views. Both education and democracy are integral to each other as it allows people space for making informed and intelligent choices. Governments come and go but the system must stay intact for the larger good of state and society.”
Gilani said that promotion of education had been a mission of his forefathers, who always took keen interest in the socio-economic and educational development of people of southern Punjab. “I believe that communicating with the student community and youths at large is not only meant to acknowledge their talent and achievements but also to encourage them to take an active part in national life,” he said. app
Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk