The success of the All Parties Conference (APC) testifies to the fact that the entire nation is united on the issue of the country’s security, Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani said on Saturday.
Addressing a public gathering at the foundation stone-laying ceremony of the Multan-Khanewal Motorway, Gilani said, “We will never allow anyone to think ill of Pakistan’s security. We do not desire war but want peace in the country and beyond. Pakistan can play an important role in peace and we will do it.”
Peace: The prime minister said Pakistan was ready to hold talks with everyone for peace and could go to any extent to achieve the objective, urging the country’s political forces to stand shoulder to shoulder for the country’s security interests. He, however, made it clear that the country would talk on the basis of equality and mutual respect.
Gilani lauded the country’s political leaders, who had responded positively on his call and sat together to discuss the issue of Pakistan’s security, keeping their political differences aside.
Gilani said he could have summoned a joint session of parliament on the issue but he opted for an APC so that all political parties, that had boycotted the previous elections, could be represented in the important national moot. “The APC was aimed at sending a message to the world that the entire nation and all political forces were united on the issue of Pakistan’s security,” he said. The prime minister said Muslims were not inferior to anyone. He, however, criticised those extremists, who were bringing a bad name to Islam.
Misunderstandings: Talking about the assassination of former Afghan president and Chairman of Afghan High Peace Council Burhanuddin Rabbani, Gilani said Afghan President Hamid Karzai had some misunderstandings on the issue. “I want to convey to Afghan President Hamid Karzai, who is my brother and friend, and with whom we have good relations, that he has some misunderstanding on the assassination of Prof Rabbani,” he said. He said he himself visited Afghanistan to express condolences over the assassination, adding that Pakistan was ready to provide any security or intelligence assistance in this respect.
APC’s success proves nation is on same page: PM
