News
Monday, January 23, 2012
No threat to govt from memo issue: Gilani* PM says Mansoor Ijaz has no credibility
* Interior Ministry will provide security to Pak-American businessman
* Security issue being projected as ‘viceroy’ coming
LAHORE: Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani on Sunday said that there was no danger to the country due to memo issue, as Mansoor Ijaz had no credibility.
The Ministry of Interior, as per the rules of business, would provide security to Mansoor Ijaz, and if required, may call army or Rangers for assistance of the civil government, he said.
“Under the rules of business and the system, it is the duty of Interior Ministry to provide him (Mansoor Ijaz) security,” Gilani said while talking to media after visiting the residence of Arfa Karim Randhawa, a Microsoft Certified Professional(MCP), who died last week.
The prime minister, however, added that “as and when required, army, Rangers or any law enforcing agencies can be called for the assistance of the civil government” to provide security to Mansoor Ijaz, who has been summoned by the judicial commission as well as the Parliamentary Committee on National Security in memo case.
To a question, Gilani said, after the emergence of memo issue, he in consensus with all the stakeholders including the president, the army chief and the ISI director general referred the matter to the Parliamentary Committee on National Security, adding, Nawaz Sharif later took the matter to the Supreme Court.
He said the government would assist the Judicial Commission as well as the Parliamentary Committee on National Security in this respect, adding, Mansoor Ijaz should appear before the both.
“I have to assist the both. It should be in all fairness that he (Mansoor Ijaz) should appear before the both - the judicial commission and the Parliamentary Committee,” Gilani said.
The prime minister said that the matter of security and protocol for Mansoor Ijaz was being highlighted in a way as if a “viceroy” was coming to Pakistan.
Gilani said Mansoor Ijaz is a person, who has always been speaking against Pakistan, its establishment and the governments.
To another question, Gilani said Husain Haqqani was Pakistan’s Ambassador to the United States and should be considered as innocent until any charge is proved against him.
About his appearance before the Supreme Court, the prime minister said, “The matter is sub judice. Let the court decide on it.” To another question, he said that Aitzaz Ahsan was his lawyer and he had no demands regarding the formation of cabinet, which was the government’s prerogative.
About the government’s foreign policy, the prime minister said Pakistan desires good relations with all countries, including its neighbours, and did not want confrontation with any country.
The recommendations of the Parliamentary Committee on National Security with regard to re-engagement with the United States would be presented before parliament for a debate, he said, adding that the government had halted the NATO supplies in its national interests and not in the interest of any other.
Gilani said that there was no political prisoner in the country and the PPP-led coalition was running the government without any support or crutches. app
Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk