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Saturday, July 24, 2010
All stakeholders in ‘secure position’ until 2013: PM* Gilani says president, SC chief justice, army chief and himself will complete official terms
* No ‘third party’ behind extension in Gen Kayani’s serviceISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani said on Friday that all major “stakeholders” — the president, the prime minister, the Supreme Court chief justice and the army chief — were in a “secure position” until 2013 and all institutions now needed to work within the ambit of constitution.
Talking to reporters after he visited a state-owned orphanage in Islamabad, the PM said that the service of Chief of Army Staff General Ashfaq Kayani had been extended until 2013 to ensure continuity of policies.
“Pakistan has a unique position. We are in the middle of a war against extremism. Stability has to be maintained and it was important for consistency and continuity,” he said.
Responding to a question, Gilani said there was no pressure on the government over the issue from any quarter and “no third party was involved”.
Referring to the Afghan-Pakistan Transit Trade Agreement, Gilani said he had set up a committee, consisting of the finance, foreign affairs and commerce ministers, to brief other political parties and the National Security Committee of parliament about the agreement and to clarify the government’s position.
He said the transit trade agreement had not yet been approved by the federal cabinet.
Responding to another question, Gilani said the government was not supporting lawmakers with fake degrees. “I have myself directed the Higher Education Commission to follow the rules and regulations in determining the status of degrees,” he said.
Referring to Latif Khosa, the PM’s adviser on information technology, Gilani said that Khosa had not resigned and was working on the same position, adding that there were many “misperception” in the media about the issue. “An adviser cannot make any decision and all he can do is give advice. Therefore, he (Khosa) will have to work according to the rules and regulations,” Gilani said.
Earlier, Gilani met the children at the orphanage and praised the project. He said 15 similar centres had been set up in various parts of the country and were taking care of 1,300 young children, whose parents had lost their lives in terrorism-related incidents in Swat, Malakand and other areas.
Gilani directed the interior, law and social welfare ministries to ensure that all the orphan children were registered with the government and did not fall into the wrong hands. app
Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk