News
Wednesday, June 23, 2010
Pakistan not bound by US sanctions on Iran: Gilani* Prime minister says Islamabad will reconsider gas deal if it violates UN sanctions
* Parliament has come up to the expectations of masses
* Certain elements want conflict between govt and judiciary but all such attempts will failStaff Report
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan is not bound to follow the restrictions that the US has imposed on Iran but will reconsider the Iran-Pakistan gas pipeline project if sanctions are levied by the UN, Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani said on Tuesday.
Speaking at a luncheon attended by parliamentarians, Gilani said, “As far as the US is concerned, we are not bound to follow these [sanctions], but if these are put in place by the United Nations, we will consider them under the obligation of international laws.”
He was clarifying comments he had made on Monday about the impact of new sanctions imposed on Iran.
Gilani said all state institutions needed to work within their constitutional ambit for achieving the greater good, for serving the masses and in the larger interest of the country.
The prime minister said the government had never claimed that there were no problems or it had solution to all ills, but that it was learning from experience and its mistakes.
Expectations: He expressed satisfaction at the performance of parliament and said it had come up to the expectations of the people of Pakistan. He said supremacy of parliament needed to be ensured.
Conflict: He said certain elements wanted a conflict between the government and the judiciary but said all such attempts would fail.
Dispelling such impressions, the prime minister said his government enjoyed good ties with all state institutions, adding that the judiciary was trying to bring about social justice in the society.
Gilani said his government was following all rules and regulations in letter and spirit had nothing to hide. “We are lawmakers, not law breakers,” he said.
He said the government enjoyed cordial relations with the opposition, the media and all other pillars of the state and believed that the country could progress and move forward by adhering to the policy of reconciliation and consensus.
He said the government had responded forcefully when its writ was challenged by extremists in Swat and Malakand. Gilani said with support from all political forces in the country, the government had forged a strong policy against terrorism.
He said the recent budget by the federal and the provincial governments had been prepared in difficult circumstances but keeping in view the global economic condition and the ground situation. He said efforts were being made to maintain the pace of national progress.
He hoped that the parliamentarians would continue to guide the government on issues of good governance and legislation.
The prime minister mentioned the achievements of his governments that included the 7th National Finance Commission Award, the passage of the 18th Amendment to restore the constitution to its original form, the Benazir Income Support Programme, the Aghaz-e-haqooq-e-Balochistan package and the Gilgit-Baltistan empowerment package.
Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk