“Comparing Pakistan with Afghanistan would be unfair,” the Prime Minister said when asked to comment on US President Barack Obama’s new policy towards Pakistan and Afghanistan.
Talking to mediapersons after attending a function of Pakistan Institute of Development Economics here, the Prime Minister said Pakistan is a nuclear state with strong institutions functioning properly, and with free judiciary and media, and therefore it would be unfair to view Pakistan on similar lines with Afghanistan.
However, he said there were a few very good points of the policy as President Obama seconded Pakistan’s strategy of dialogue, development and deterrence.
Gilani recalled his meeting with Barack Obama in Washington last year when the latter was running his presidential campaign, and said at that time, Obama extended full support to Pakistan’s democracy and sovereignty.
“As far as Pakistan’s democracy is concerned, he is supporting it...and on sovereignty, he is reiterating the same thing,” the Prime Minister said.
He said Pakistan wanted the Kerry-Lugar Bill and setting up of Reconstruction Opportunity Zones (ROZs) to be expedited by the US administration.
He said though President Obama had made the financial assistance conditional with Pakistan’s performance on war on terror, the country’s sacrifices should not be ignored.
“Our soldiers laid their lives in war against terror, more than the NATO forces. We also paid a heavy price in terms of economy,” he said.
He stressed the need for enhancing the capability of law enforcement agencies to effectively perform their professional duties.
Gilani paid tribute to the police personnel who laid their lives in attack at police academy and said the terrorists’ target was to demoralize the law enforcement agencies.
He said the government would provide various incentives to the law enforcing staff such as increased salaries and pension and welfare of their widows and orphans.
Regarding comments by some US officials about Pakistan’s army and intelligence agency, the Prime Minister said, “There is no confusion at all. Our army and ISI are truly professional, sincere and pro-democracy.”
He said the two institutions were working in the ambit of Constitution and under the command of prime minister’s office.
He mentioned that ISI had been working in collaboration with the United States in the past.
On international community’s efforts to defuse negative impact by terrorism on economy, the Prime Minister said the world was supporting Pakistan in the difficult hour as stable Pakistan was in the interest of whole world.
He also sought full cooperation of the people, civil society and media to play their part in this regard.
About the mastermind behind the attack on police academy by unknown assailants, the Prime Minister said he would not jump to conclusion till the preliminary report was finalized.
The Prime Minister said he was in favour of PML-N to put in place it’s government in Punjab.
“There is no second opinion to this fact. We will respect the mandate of the majority party in Punjab,” he said.
He said Pakistan Peoples Party would sit in the Opposition in Punjab, with PML-N running the government in the province.
The Prime Minister said he was against the governor rule in Punjab, adding that it was party’s domain if it wanted to take notice of those who created ripples in the smooth working of Punjab government.
About the timeframe for making amendments in the Constitution in view of the President’s recent announcement, the Prime Minister said it now depended on the pace of committee to finalize the terms of reference.

Copyright APP (Associated Press of Pakistan), 2009