Negative projection of Bhatti’s assassination to only help advance nefarious agenda of terrorists:PM
ISLAMABAD, Mar 4 (APP): Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani while eulogizing late Shahbaz Bhatti’s remarkable contribution for advocating moderation, human rights, justice, tolerance and interfaith harmony, on Friday stated that he was a national figure in Pakistan. He said Bhatti’s assassination should not be projected by the international media and international community as merely a minority leader, adding, the tragic death of Shahbaz Bhatti also must not be misconstrued as an example of persecution of Christians or minorities in Pakistan because doing so would only amount to grave injustice to the life and work of Shahbaz Bhatti.
These misperceptions, he added, would only help advance the nefarious agenda of the terrorist elements in Pakistan and abroad.
The Prime Minister was talking to a Canadian delegation, led by Jason Kenney, Minister for Multiculturalism, Citizenship and Immigration that called on here him at the PM House on Friday. The delegation included Senator Ms. Salma Ataullahjan, Canadian Upper House of Parliament.
The Prime Minister said that the continued support and understanding of the international community is of vital importance for Pakistan’s masses in the fight against intolerance and extremism.
He stated that abuse and misuse of any law of the country could not be accepted and the government was already in consultation with all the religious and political stakeholders.
The Prime Minister said that Pakistan and Pakistanis have been the worst victims of terrorist attacks and overwhelming majority of the victims of this menace had been from Muslim majority of the country.
The friends of Pakistan and international community should, therefore, be mindful of these ground realities in their statements about the unfortunate incident of March 2, he added.
The Prime Minister emphasized that illiteracy and poverty were the root causes of extremism and terrorism and the friends of Pakistan must fulfill their commitments to help his government’s efforts for socio-economic development, spread of education and creating more job opportunities.
These efforts could be supplemented through greater access to international market, he said and urged the international community to fulfill their pledges and commitments to Pakistan made at various forums to support Pakistan.
The Prime Minister appreciated the gesture of solidarity of Canadian government by sending its Minister for Multiculturalism, Citizenship and Immigration to Pakistan for attending the funeral services of late Shahbaz Bhatti and promoting the feeling that Pakistan was not alone in this hour of national tragedy.
The Prime Minister appreciated the generous support and assistance of Canada for the flood relief efforts of his government as well as for the financial aid provided for the rehabilitation of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) and reconstruction of earthquake affected areas in the past.
He termed Canada as an important partner in Pakistan’s development and called for the Canadian economic development assistance to Pakistan to focus on the education sector in the country.
The Prime Minister said that his government was keen to further strengthen Pakistan’s bilateral ties with Canada particularly in trade, economic, cultural and manpower fields.
He hoped that Canada would facilitate issuance of visas to Pakistani nationals and sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the import of skilled workers from Pakistan.
The Prime Minister noted that presence of over 30000 people of Pakistani origin in Canada had given a special meaning to the bilateral relationship as they were playing the role of a bridge between the two friendly countries.
Jason Kenney condoled the death of Shahbaz Bhatti with the Prime Minister and people of Pakistan and commended the Prime Minister for having re-appointed Shahbaz Bhatti in the latest Cabinet reshuffle.
He said the re-appointment of late Shahbaz Bhatti was reflective of the commitment of government of Pakistan to continue striving for the interfaith harmony and emancipation of religious minorities in the country.
Jason Kenney also expressed his understanding of Pakistan’s situation by acknowledging the fact that more casualties of Muslim majority community had taken place in Pakistan’s war against terror than their minority counterparts.
He assured Canada’s continued help in rooting out the root causes of terror and highlighted the fact that most of Canadian International Development Agency’s development programme were directed towards education sector in Pakistan.
He, however, undertook to expand the sphere of those programmes throughout the country.
Jason Kenney stated that Canada under its Dubai Initiative was helping Pakistan in border security sector particularly by streamlining the cross border movement on its western frontier.
He also assured the Prime Minister that his Ministry and the Canadian Government was reviewing its procedure to ease the restrictions of visa for Pakistani nationals.
He agreed with the Prime Minister on the need for increased interaction between the private sectors of the two countries as well students’ exchanges to further strengthen the bilateral ties.
Jason Kenney extended an invitation on behalf of Prime Minister Stephen Harper to the Prime Minister of Pakistan for undertaking an official visit to Canada at mutually convenient time in the near future which the Prime Minister accepted with thanks.
The time frame of the visit will be coordinated through diplomatic channels.
Minister for Interior Rehman Malik, Secretaries Foreign Affairs, Interior and Minorities Affairs and other senior officials were also present in the meeting.