LAHORE – Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani said on Saturday that the Army has finished its operation against Taliban in South Waziristan, but may soon pursue militants in Orakzai Agency. However, speaking in Karachi later, the Prime Minister said the operation against the militants in South Waziristan would continue.
Talking to newsmen after the 8th annual convocation at Government College University in Lahore on Saturday, the Prime Minister said “The operation in South Waziristan is over. Now there are talks about Orakzai.” He did not give a timeframe or any other details.
Gilani said the Army had driven the Taliban out of South Waziristan. “We are indeed alive in the most testing times. The retrogressive forces are adamant to stall the process of development,” Gilani said.
“Our government is committed to block their path and preserve a culture of peace and harmony in the country,” Gilani said, referring to extremists. “We gave no deadline for Operation Rah-e-Rast in Swat, Buner and Dir but we ensured earliest return of internally-displaced people,” he said.
“We were able to ensure return of two million internally-displaced people of Malakand within 10 weeks,” he said, adding “Many people used to criticise Operation Rah-e-Rast but we have witnessed the change after that.”
Responding to a question, Gilani said he had never talked about involvement of New Delhi in all acts of terrorism in Pakistan, however, he blamed India for its interference in Balochistan only.
He further said the provincial governments were also carrying out investigation over the possible involvement of foreign agencies and final stance would be adopted after investigation was over in the terrorism-related incidents.
Talking about the Balochistan Package, he said: “The Baloch are our brothers and we are considering their case with due sympathy wherein they asked us for rapping up cases of 89 people belonging to Balochistan.”
He said the government was in constant contact with them in this regard.
Replying to another question, Gilani said Imran Khan was his friend and he would discuss with him several national and tribal issues.
To combat terrorism, he said a new force had been created and the government was also doubling the capability of its law-enforcing agencies.
To another question, he said the government would restore 1973 Constitution in its original form and in future such a strategy would be evolved wherein institutions would be strengthened and not individuals. He further said nobody would be allowed to abrogate the Constitution.
“PPP is sincere in repealing 17th Amendment and he personally had assured PML-N Quaid Nawaz Sharif on implementation of Charter of Democracy.”
About the US nationalsÂ’ activities and their free movement in Pakistan with weapons, he said nobody was above law in the country.
He refused to comment when he was asked if Chief JusticeÂ’s car accident was a conspiracy.
Earlier, the Prime Minister announced a special grant of Rs110 million for the GC University Lahore which included Rs 100 million for the development projects of the University including the restoration and renovation of the 132-year-old GCU building and 118-year-old Iqbal Hostel and Rs10 million for the GCU Endowment Fund.
The Prime Minister gave away medals and rolls of honour to 45 GCU students.
On this occasion, Punjab Governor Salman Taseer who is also the Chancellor of GCU, conferred degrees on 33 PhDs through a collective oath-taking ceremony. He also conferred degrees on 430 students of Masters and MPhil collectively through a declaration.
Earlier, in his opening speech, GCU Vice Chancellor Dr Khalid Aftab requested the Prime Minister to help the University in building a new campus by liberal development grants.
APP adds: Prime Minister Gilani said that military operation against the militants in South Waziristan would continue. “This operation has continued with great success and the strongholds of militants have been captured and a large quantity of weapons and ammunition has been recovered,” he said while responding to the questions of media at the launching of MNA Khushbakht Shujaat’s book ‘Farozan Chehry’ (Glowing Faces) at the Governor House in Karachi on Saturday night.
Sindh Governor Dr Ishratul Ebad Khan, Chief Minister Qaim Ali Shah were also present at the ceremony. He said that if somebody gathered an impression that the military operation would be concluded, it could have been in a different context.
Gilani said that the government will chase militants if they take refuge in some other places like Orakzai Agency or other areas. “We will take military action wherever we get information about the presence of militants”, he noted. “I cannot give the time frame when we will conclude military operation in South Waziristan, but I can at least provide this information that success rate is very high in this area”, he said. Replying to a question regarding the probe of UN investigation, he said that UN team (in Shaheed Benazir case) would be arriving soon to resume their investigations.
The Prime Minister said that when Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto came to Karachi after exile, she had also hinted at calling for an investigation by the United Nations if anything happened to her.
He said that the government preferred the UN probe only to establish the authenticity of the case so that no one could raise a finger. He said that the government will lay the foundation stone for the monument of Benazir Bhutto at Liaquat Bagh on her second death anniversary so that she is remembered for laying her life for the cause of democracy and for the people. Replying to a question about reshuffle in the portfolio of ministers, he said that it was a routine matter. PM Gilani said the government has set up an anti-terrorism authority to pool all the information from different intelligence agencies. The information will be provided to provincial governments as advance information to counter terrorism. It would be a better organisation to deal with terrorism as has been done in other parts of the world, by improving the strategy against terrorism.
Responding to a question about National Finance Commission (NFC) Award, the Prime Minister said that it became possible due to a better strategy and positive approach of the provincial and federal finance ministers. “I congratulate the entire nation on this Award, only a political government with a democratic approach can do this. This is not possible during the reign of dictators,” PM Gilani said. He noted that unanimous election of speakers in Gilgit-Baltistan and announcement of the Balochistan package are also positive developments in the political government. Talking of political support in the country, PM Gilani said that PML (N) leadership was also extending full cooperation on all issues of national interest.
“The entire political leadership is united to strengthen the country, institutions, supremacy of the Constitution and Parliament’s sovereignty,” he observed. To a question about corruption cases, the Prime Minister said that the PPP has faced the courts in every regime and underwent imprisonments for the rights of the people and not for becoming the prime minister.
He said that courts are the proper forum to prove innocence against (corruption) charges and we are ready to face the courts for this purpose.
“This is the reason why all the four provinces and the federal government announced “not” to defend National Reconciliation Ordinance (NRO) and we will go to the courts,” he added.