Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani has said that no action will be taken against national interest and integrity, adding that all the issues, including Kashmir were under discussion with India.
Addressing a joint session of the parliament on Thursday, he clarified that President Asif Ali Zardari was going on to India on a private trip.
Gilani said the president would be visiting India in his personal capacity and the parliament would be taken into confidence if discussions on any issue were held with the Indian leadership. Responding to the points raised by Leader of the Opposition Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan and JUI-F chief Fazlur Rehman in the joint session of the parliament ‚ he said Pakistan had an ongoing dialogue process with India in which all issues, including Kashmir‚ Siachen and water were being discussed.
Gilani said his Indian counterpart had asked him to put all the cards on table and they mentioned Kashmir even during their joint news conference. “We are a responsible government and we will uphold the dignity and self-respect of the country,” Gilani said. About US announcement of $10 million bounty on Hafiz Saeed‚ the prime minister said he had telephoned PML-N President Nawaz Sharif on Thursday and took him into confidence on the government’s position on the issue. The prime minister said this was an internal issue of Pakistan and if there was any concrete proof against Hafiz Saeed, then it should be provided to Pakistan which has an independent judiciary. Gilani pointed out that the last case against Saeed was dismissed due to lack of evidence. He said he had taken up the matter with US deputy secretary of State on Wednesday. “He was informed that at a time when the parliament was engaged in framing new rules of engagement with the United States, such negative messages would increase the trust deficit,” Gilani added.