Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani on Friday said it the United States’ turn to “do more” in the fight against terrorism, as Pakistan had already contributed a lot.
“Now it is time they (United States) do more,” the prime minister told reporters after attending a ceremony at a girls’ college. Gilani said Pakistan had sacrificed much in battling the menace of terrorism in the last decade and emphasised that it should not be pressurised to do more. Gilani said that he had called off his upcoming visit to New York to attend the UN General Assembly session because he wanted to personally supervise the relief efforts in the flood-hit areas of Sindh.
He did not respond clearly when asked whether he would ask Interior Minister Rehman Malik to resign from his post and respond to the allegations levelled against him by Dr Zulfiqar Mirza. Asked if the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) ministers would rejoin the government, the prime minister said their resignations had not been accepted so far. “When did they leave the government? Since their resignations were never accepted, there is no question of their return,” he added.
Commenting on the arrest of Jiyay Sindh Qaumi Mahaz (JSQM) chief Bashir Qureshi, the PM said he used to take pride in stating that there were no political prisoners under his government. “I will see how this mistake was committed,” he added. Addressing the ceremony for thirty students from Balochistan who had been selected on merit under ‘Prime Minister’s Scholarship Programme for Talented Youth from Balochistan,” Gilani said the development and prosperity of Balochistan was the government’s top priority and Baloch people would be included in national mainstream to end their sense of deprivation.
