ISI chief won’t appear in US court, says PM
* Gilani says government will not take dictation over military operation in North Waziristan
* No compromise will be made on sovereignty and integrity of country
By Zeeshan Javaid
ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani categorically stated on Thursday that the ISI chief would not be asked to appear before a US court.
Gilani was responding to a Brooklyn court summons asking present ISI chief Lt Gen Ahmed Shuja Pasha, his predecessor Nadeem Taj and Lashkar-e-Tayyaba leaders, including Hafiz Saeed, to appear before it next month in connection with the suit filed by relatives of Rabbi Gavriel Noach Holtzberg and his wife, who were among the 166 people killed in the Mumbai attacks. Gilani said that ISI chief, being the head of an extremely important and sensitive national organisation, would never be asked to appear before a US court. “We are as sensitive about this issue as any other in the House,” he told the National Assembly.
The prime minister said no military operation would not be launched in North Waziristan on foreign dictation. He said the nation would decide about it and the government will take the nation into confidence before launching security operations in North Waziristan and adjacent regions. “No compromise will be made over the sovereignty and integrity of the country,” Gilani assured the House. He said the country would not give in to any external pressure to launch a military operation in North Waziristan, and said that no one can “dictate us” on the when and where of things.
“We can sacrifice our lives for the defence and security of the country, so, no one should have the impression that they can dictate when military operations should be conducted in North Waziristan and South Waziristan,” he added. Gilani said the government took onboard the nation and the political leadership as well as the House before launching military offensives against terrorists in Malakand, Swat and South Waziristan Agency.
He said it was an important decision meant to improve the law and order situation, which he termed a prerequisite for improving the economy. “Until and unless conducive law and order (environment) prevails (in the country), investment is not going to come, a single suicide blast undermines a very good investment scenario,” he added. The whole nation and the political leadership were united against terrorism, which destabilised country’s economy, Gilani said.
He said law and order and economy were the government’s two most important priorities. Speaking on the arrest of Jamhoori Watan Party chief Shahzain Bugti, Gilani said that law enforcement agencies, including the Frontier Constabulary, Frontier Corps and Federal Investigation Agency, could not take action on their own without the approval of the provincial government. He drew the attention of the House towards involvement of foreign elements in creating trouble in Balochistan and asked the opposition to help in improving the situation there. “Let’s devise a mutual strategy,” he added.
* No compromise will be made on sovereignty and integrity of country
By Zeeshan Javaid
ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani categorically stated on Thursday that the ISI chief would not be asked to appear before a US court.
Gilani was responding to a Brooklyn court summons asking present ISI chief Lt Gen Ahmed Shuja Pasha, his predecessor Nadeem Taj and Lashkar-e-Tayyaba leaders, including Hafiz Saeed, to appear before it next month in connection with the suit filed by relatives of Rabbi Gavriel Noach Holtzberg and his wife, who were among the 166 people killed in the Mumbai attacks. Gilani said that ISI chief, being the head of an extremely important and sensitive national organisation, would never be asked to appear before a US court. “We are as sensitive about this issue as any other in the House,” he told the National Assembly.
The prime minister said no military operation would not be launched in North Waziristan on foreign dictation. He said the nation would decide about it and the government will take the nation into confidence before launching security operations in North Waziristan and adjacent regions. “No compromise will be made over the sovereignty and integrity of the country,” Gilani assured the House. He said the country would not give in to any external pressure to launch a military operation in North Waziristan, and said that no one can “dictate us” on the when and where of things.
“We can sacrifice our lives for the defence and security of the country, so, no one should have the impression that they can dictate when military operations should be conducted in North Waziristan and South Waziristan,” he added. Gilani said the government took onboard the nation and the political leadership as well as the House before launching military offensives against terrorists in Malakand, Swat and South Waziristan Agency.
He said it was an important decision meant to improve the law and order situation, which he termed a prerequisite for improving the economy. “Until and unless conducive law and order (environment) prevails (in the country), investment is not going to come, a single suicide blast undermines a very good investment scenario,” he added. The whole nation and the political leadership were united against terrorism, which destabilised country’s economy, Gilani said.
He said law and order and economy were the government’s two most important priorities. Speaking on the arrest of Jamhoori Watan Party chief Shahzain Bugti, Gilani said that law enforcement agencies, including the Frontier Constabulary, Frontier Corps and Federal Investigation Agency, could not take action on their own without the approval of the provincial government. He drew the attention of the House towards involvement of foreign elements in creating trouble in Balochistan and asked the opposition to help in improving the situation there. “Let’s devise a mutual strategy,” he added.
(Daily times)
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