MULTAN – Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani on Sunday said that drone attacks were proving counterproductive in the fight against terrorism, and Pakistan was trying to convince the coalition forces that these attacks were adding to problems.
“We have asked them to provide us with drone technology so we can use it against terrorists,” he said while talking to reporters at the residence of Hassan Raza. The prime minister said that the Taliban strongholds had been eliminated and they were now on the run.
“That is why they are attacking soft targets,” he added, appealing to the people to inform the government of any suspect activities around them so that terrorists could be brought to justice. Asked to comment on a meeting between PML-Q leaders and Imran Khan, he said politicians should have contacts with each other and that the Pakistan People’s Party was also in contact with other parties.
Asked whether the recent move of the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl affected parliament’s strength, he said there was no need to worry about it. To a question about investigation into Benazir Bhutto’s assassination, he said the matter was sub-judice. However, he added that the party would be taken into confidence on the matter in its central executive committee (CEC) later today (Sunday).
To a question about the arrest of Shahzain Bugti, he said he had sought a report from the Balochistan chief minister on the matter. Gilani said people of Balochistan were loyal to the country and had played a pivotal role in the establishment of Pakistan. “We do not want to arrest any innocent person and there is no political prisoner in the country during our tenure,” he added.
“Shahzain Bugti’s arrest is a provincial matter. However, I have sought a briefing from the Balochistan chief minister on the issue and then I will be able to comment on it,” he said. To a question about price hike, he said the government was trying to improve the economic condition of the country and devise a strategy to address the problem.
However, he blamed the price hike on global recession, the war against terrorism and the recent flooding.
