News
Monday, September 26, 2011
PM calls APC on Pak-US tensions* Gilani invites all leaders to attend a national conference to apprise them of security situation in Pakistan and emerging situation in region
ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani on Sunday called for an all parties’ conference (APC) to build a consensus on Pakistan’s stance over US threats regarding Haqqani network.
The prime minister suggested the APC to take the political leadership into confidence on the security situation in the wake of threats emanating from outside the country.
Gilani on Sunday held discussions with political leaders over telephone on the current security situation facing the country.
The prime minister contacted President Asif Ali Zardari as co-chairman of the Pakistan People’s Party and informed him about his contacts with politicians across the board.
Gilani called Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) chief Nawaz Sharif, Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) chief Altaf Hussain, Awami National Party chief Asfandyar Wali, Jamaat-e-Islami Amir Munawar Hassan, Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman, PML-Qauid leader Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain, PML-Likeminded President Saleem Saifullah Khan, PML-Functional leader Pir Pagaro, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf chief Imran Khan, PPP-S chief Aftab Sherpao, JUP-N chief Anas Noorani, Parliamentary Leader of MNAs from FATA Munir Khan Orakzai and Sheikh Rasheed Ahmed of the Awami Muslim League.
According to a spokesman of the Prime Minister’s House, the political leadership welcomed the initiative of the prime minister.
Talking to the state television, Saleem Saifullah said that all political parties should get united on national issues and respond to the statements coming from the United States.
All the leaders were taken into confidence by the prime minister to respond to the US allegations with honesty.
The political leaders assured Gilani that they would cooperate with the government to ensure the nation’s well being.
In telephonic conversations with Altaf, Gilani discussed with him the situation arising after the allegations levelled by the United States against Pakistan and the need for national unity.
Gilani said the government wanted to create a national consensus and was deliberating about calling a meeting of all the political leadership in order to brief them on the current situation.
The political leadership would be given an opportunity to express their opinions on the national security in order to formulate a consensus line of action for meeting the challenges that the country was faced with.
Altaf welcomed the efforts of the prime minister for arriving at a national consensus in view of the present precarious situation of the country.
He said that he had been informing about the conspiracies which had been hatched to undermine the national security and existence of the country.
Altaf said that he had given an unequivocal statement after the threats by the United States, and the nation must be taken into confidence for meeting the existing challenges.
He said it was the need of the time that all the political parties adopted a unanimous policy for the national security instead of getting swayed by petty political considerations. Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar has been summoned to reach Pakistan soon to be present in the briefing, which will be given by all the concerned authorities.
Meanwhile, Shujaat called on the prime minister in the Prime Minister’s House on Sunday evening and extended his full support to the PM’s move to hold a meeting of the political parties meant to apprise them of security situation. daily times monitor/ staff report/ agencies
Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk