Pakistan wants a good relationship with the United States but it should be based on equality and mutual respect, Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani said.
Talking to reporters, Gilani said relations with the US had strained after the Raymond Davis incident and the unilateral action taken by the US to kill Osama Bin laden in Abbottabad. He said currently the two countries were holding talks but it would take some time to improve the ties.
In reference to the attack in Chitral from the Afghanistan side, the PM said both countries had suffered losses in their fight against militancy. “The relations between Pakistan and Afghanistan have improved because of their efforts to fight the common enemy,” he said, however some forces wanted to hurt the relationship between the two countries.
Talking about local bodies’ elections, the prime minister said it would be appropriate for the provinces to hold the polls on the basis of computerised electoral rolls. He said according to the Election Commission of Pakistan, the computerised electoral rolls would be completed by April 2012 while the next general elections were scheduled in 2013.
Criticising land grabbers and extortionists, the prime minister said any criminal, terrorist or militant, if found guilty of killing innocent people in Karachi, would be sternly punished.
“We will not tolerate a militant wing in any party,” he said, adding that Islam preached brotherhood and love and gave the message of peace.
He said some elements, who were only a few in number, were trying to hurt the true image of Islam and expressed resolve to remove the sense of deprivation of the people of under-developed areas of the country.
Pakistan wants relations with US on basis of equality: Gilani
