Gilani says Sharia already exists in country in form of 1973 Constitution, Taliban’s demand of Sharia invalid
Sharia already exists in the country in the form of 1973 Constitution as no legislation could be made repugnant to the Islamic teachings, said former prime minister Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani while talking to journalists at his Lahore residence after his meeting with Gilgit-Balistan Chief Minister Syed Mehdi Shah on Sunday.
Yousaf Raza Gilani said that the Taliban have come up with three major demands including enforcement of Sharia in the country, release of Taliban prisoners and withdrawal of troops from militancy hit areas and it is up to the government either to accept or not these demands.
He said that PPP and other political parties gave the mandate of peace talks to government and now we have to wait for the results of dialogues with the banned outfit.
The former PM said that both government and Taliban committees are engaged in talks, exchanging views, demands, reservations and it will be premature to make any prediction about the outcome of these talks.
Gilani said that he had talked to Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif six months ago asking him to play his role for release of his abducted son Ali Haider Gilani. He pinned the hoped that now when the issue of release of Taliban prisoners will be raised, the PM will remember his son also, he added.
The former premier said PPP government during its era gave provincial status to GB besides facilitating people with equal rights enjoyed by people of other provinces of country.
GB CM Mehdi Shah said that PPP led government spared no efforts to resolve problems faced by people and it was hoped that his party will clean sweep in general elections scheduled in December 2014.