Gilani seeks US assistance to overcome energy crisis

LAHORE Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani Sunday said that the government has sought US assistance to overcome load-shedding in the country for providing immediate relief to the masses.During a meeting with senior journalists at his residence here, he said that US leadership has assured of assistance to the Pakistani government in providing cheap electricity to the masses.Gilani said that he has asked the US leadership for more trade than aid, adding that market access to the Pakistani businessmen would strengthen country’s economy.Regarding US Secretary of state Hillary Clinton’s recent visit, he said that Hillary Clinton and Senator John Kerry have supported Pakistan’s stance on the recent Abbottabad incident.He said that the US leadership had not alleged Pakistan of incompetence or complacency on the Osama Bin Laden issue, adding that these statements were issued by some of the US generals. About the drone attacks, the Premier said no compromise would be made on the sovereignty and self respect of the country, adding that drone attacks are counter productive as these unite the Taliban who are separated as a result of the efforts of the government. “Unilateral acts like Abbottabad incident will not be acceptable to us”, he said, saying that he himself moved the resolution against drone attacks in the NA. Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani has said that government is aware of its democratic responsibilities and an independent Commission on Abbottabad incident would be constituted shortly as per the demand of the opposition, adding that there are no deadlines in politics as democracy teaches reasoning and adjustment. Taking strong exception to PTI Chief Imran Khan’s statement, Gilani rejected Imran Khan’s claims, saying that he did not own any assets abroad. “I challenge Imran Khan to prove my foreign assets and I would donate all such assets in PTI party funds”, he stressed.  The Premier dispelled the impression that Pakistan has been isolated on the international front, stressing that Pakistan has complete backing of the West, European Union (EU), China, Saudi Arabia, Organization of the Islamic Countries (OIC) and our relations with our neighbours have improved a great deal. To a query regarding ISI-CIA relations, he said that the estranged relations between the two intelligence agencies have been repaired to a great extent. Gilani said that Pakistan would continue its long-term strategic relationships with the US. Regarding foreign loans, Gilani said that the governments must not depend on international loans and his government takes all decisions in the interest of the country. About his comments on Osama Bin Laden during the joint session of the parliament, the Prime Minister said that his statement was prompted by the loss of 36000 Pakistani persons who had lost their lives in the war which Al Qaeda and Taliban had imposed on Pakistan.  He said that the government has complete sympathy with all the martyrs from the law enforcement agencies, adding that their blood would not go waste. Commenting on the recent terrorist attacks in Charsaddah and Naval headquarters in Karachi, he said that the terrorist acts were a continuation of reaction against Osama Bin Laden killing.  “A terrorist is a terrorist and he can not be exonerated of the crime by labelling him as good or bad Taliban”,he stressed. The Premier stressed that government would assert itself if anyone challenged the writ of the government, adding that military operation is not a permanent solution. About Pak-India relations, he said that relations between the two countries are based on mutual respect for each other’s sovereignty, adding that the stalked talks between the two neighbouring countries have resumed. The Premier stressed that a democratic government always believes in dialogue and diplomacy. About Afghanistan, he said that Pakistan believes in a peaceful, stable, sovereign and independent Afghanistan. About the upcoming budget, the Premier said that the next budget would be a development budget as almost 300 billion rupees have been allocated for development, adding that development is the indicator of economic betterment. He said that it is the first budget after the NFC Award and we have delegated powers to the provinces under the NFC Award. About the raise in salaries, Gilani said that his government raised salaries of the armed forces, judges, doctors, government servants and personnel of the law enforcement agencies, adding that it is the responsibility of the provincial government to also raise the salaries.Regarding the safety of nuclear assets, Gilani said that the nuclear assets of the country are in safe hands, adding that the US leadership also testifies to the fact. To a query on internal security, he said that country’s economy has been on the right track and achieved economic stability due to the consistent efforts of the PPP-led government. Commenting on the recent statements of the opposition leadership, he said that the opposition should not befool the masses and accept the fact that they are making preparations for the next elections after failing in the preparations of the mid-term elections. “They should ask their voters to prepare for the next elections and give out their manifesto,” he said. About the local government (LG) elections, he said that he is a staunch supporter of LG elections but a decision in this regard would be made by the provincial governments. About opposition’s claims of saying no to foreign aid, the Prime Minister said that it is the prerogative of the federal government, not of the provincial government, to decide on foreign loans. To a question on Shah Mehmood Qureshi, he said that Shah Mehmood Qureshi had called on the President Asif Ali Zardari to condole with him on the death of latter’s father. To a question about China, he said that China is a time-tested friend of Pakistan, adding the recent visit of the leadership of both the countries have given new impetus to the relations between China and Pakistan. About the expansion of cabinet, the Premier said that the cabinet may be expanded if the need arises.He said that political and military leadership are in unison on all issues pertaining to national defense, stressing Pakistan is neither isolated nor weakened but it is ensured that our soil is not used against others. About transfer of civil nuclear technology from the US, he said that civil nuclear technology transfer can not be possible unless trust deficit level between the two countries improves.  He said that Pakistan seeks long-term strategic relationships with its partners and close liaison with the international community, adding that ISI-CIA intelligence cooperation expands over many years.  Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani said that the government was making every effort to increase its energy resources to provide relief to the masses, adding that Iran Pakistan gas pipeline, Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India (TAPI) pipeline projects as well as civil nuclear energy dialogues are the steps towards increasing energy resources to overcome load-shedding in the country.