Pakistan sacrificed thousands in war on terror, playing no double game: Gilani 

      
ISLAMABAD, Oct 19 (APP): Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani on Tuesday said Pakistan is sincerely fighting war against terror for its own security and allegations of a double game are false.In an interview with television channel Dawn telecast on Tuesday night, the Prime Minister said, “thousands of troops, personnel of Frontier Constabulary, Frontier Corps and civil servants sacrificed their lives and the political leadership was targetted. Is it a joke?” To a question, he said former President Pervez Musharraf confessed to playing double game in the war on terror but “we are not saying we are playing a double game”.
He said nation is happy over extension given to army chief General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani as it gave continuity to the system.
A military leader cannot be changed in the middle of war, he said adding comparison cannot be drawn with a country like United States on this issue.
He called Gen Kayani a highly professional, highly respected, pro democracy army chief who enjoys credibility.
He said General Khalid Shameem Wynne who was senior most was appointed Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee.
The Premier said improvement in law and order and economy were top priorities of the government.
The nation is united in war on terror and army carried out military operations with support of everybody and with consensus of leadership inside and outside the parliament, he added.
He said investment can be attracted with better law and order.
To a question on the situation in Karachi, he said without
steps of the government situation in the provincial metropolis could have been worse.
The Prime Minister assured of support to judiciary in dispensation of justice to people and said government and courts complement each others’ efforts.
He said he has no objection to system of checks and balances affecting government.
“Even before taking oath, my first order was to release judges in the cause of justice”, he added.
Gilani said Pakistan is ready to help if Afghan leadership shares future roadmap for their country.
“A stable Afghanistan is in interest of Pakistan. We are part of the solution. We don’t want to interfere in affairs of another country.”
Gilani said the government adopted the 3D strategy of dialogue, development and deterrence to curb terrorism.
“Use of force was the last option. We did not want to use force every time as it erodes authority.”
The government held talks with “maulana” in Swat and Malakand but when the written agreement was violated, it took action with support of people and according to traditions of the area, he recalled.
“It is difficult to determine good Taliban and bad Taliban.  However, a terrorist is a terrorist who has to decommission, lay down arms and surrender before the political agent,” he explained.
The Prime Minister said army took action against those who challenged writ of the government and tried to form parallel set ups. 
About reports of release of Taliban leader Mullah Baradar, he said the government and military are on the same page on such issues.
Prime Minister Gilani said the present government was confronted with various challenges but tackling them effectively as it believes in strong institutions and political stability, “so that we focus on real issues without wasting any time”.
He, however, added that as the country was going through evolution process - from dictatorship to democracy, there seems activism in all institutions including media, parliament, judiciary and civil society.
To a question, the Prime Minister stressed the importance of continuity of democratic system and said the completion of five-year mandated tenure of the present government will save the future governments and people from hardships.
When asked if he would acknowledge any mistakes of his government during the last two- and- half year, Gilani said, being a human being he could commit some little mistakes like in posting and transfers, but he could not recall any big mistake.
To another question, the Prime Minister said in the parliamentary form of government everybody including the Prime Minister, Ministers, State Ministers were answerable to the parliament and in the eyes of Constitution nobody is above law.
Regarding the size of federal cabinet, he said, under the 18th Constitutional Amendment ten federal ministries would be devolved by the end of current year or in January 2011.
When asked about the impact of the devolution of ministries on coalition partners, the Prime Minister said, it was not his government alone but a coalition government and all the coalition partners are equally respectable.
“People should make themselves used to of such government, as he foresees a coalition government in future as well”, he remarked.
The Prime Minister further said that it was owing to the coalition government as well as the policy of reconciliation that the 1973 Constitution was restored with all stakeholders on board.
“None of the 442 members of parliament including 342 MNAs and 100 Senators opposed, which was a great achievement”, he maintained.
To a question as to why the Chief Minister Punjab was not present among the CMs and representatives of other provinces during his address to nation on Sunday, the Prime Minister said Mian Shahbaz Sharif was not invited as he had taken a different view on the issue of news regarding the withdrawal of judges notification.
Gilani further said, he was hurt as after Mian Shahbaz Sharif viewed the news of withdrawal of judges’ notification as “night assault”, adding, he (Shahbaz Sharif) did not believe in my contradiction but in a news item, which is yet to be verified.
“We respect the judiciary more than they respect and we cannot even think of such things about judiciary”, he added.
To a question as if the judiciary over-reacted on the news, the Prime Minister said, “as the matter is in court, I do not want to comment on that issue”.
He, however, added that a committee has been constituted to probe the matter and its findings would be made public.
To a question about invoking Article 6 on former President Pervez Musharraf with retrospective effect as being demanded by Mian Nawaz Sharif, the Prime Minister said the Constitution should be followed.
Gilani said though he himself was the victim of retrospective effect, as he faced jail on the charges of giving jobs in 1994 under the NAB Ordinance which was promulgated after the 1999, but he in his case considered it violation of human rights.
To a question, the Prime Minister said the policy of reconciliation followed by the present government has been a big success, as they did not face the situation in parliament like in the previous regime when the slogans of “Go Musharraf Go” were raised in the parliament.
About the issue of drone attacks, the Prime Minister said that such attacks are counter productive, adding that it is neither in the interest of Pakistan nor the United States.
“We are trying to convince the United States to resolve the issue, the people of European Union are already convinced that these attacks are counter productive” he said.
“We have told them that we should increase our intelligence and defence cooperation, and if any credible information is passed on to Pakistan, we will take action on our own and they have agreed to it.
There is an international system for it and we have taken up the issue at diplomatic level,” the prime minister said.
About the arrest of killers of Shaheed Benazir Bhutto, the Prime Minister said that the government followed the procedure and after the UN report they are probing the officers mentioned in the report.
He said that Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto was a leader of international stature and they will soon reach the culprits.
About the Karsaz incident, he said, the same elements were behind it and assured that the blood of Shaheed Benazir Bhutto would not go waste.
The Prime Minster said that the write-off loans should be returned to the national exchequer as it is the right of the people of Pakistan.
About good governance, he said, it is a team work and every one would have to play their role for the good governance, adding that if there is political interference there would be no good governance. “Since 2008, I did not interfere in the selection of Central Selection Board procedure”, he said.
“I did not object over the decision of the Supreme Court about reverting of senior bureaucrats rather I appreciated it and did not go for appeal,” he said.
About the working of ISI, he said that according to the Constitution of Pakistan, they are working under the Prime Minister.
Nobody is indispensable, every one who qualifies for becoming the Member of the National Assembly can become the Prime Minister of Pakistan, he said and added that he did not believe in sticking to the chair.