Govt not conspiring against chief justice: Gilani
08 June, 2012
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| KARACHI: Prime Minister Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani speaking at the inauguration of International Exhibition of Gems and Jewllery. |
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KARACHI: Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani on Thursday strongly rejected the notion that the government was conspiring against Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry.
"Considering that the Pakistan People's Party (PPP) played a pivotal role in reinstatement of judiciary, while the PPP leadership was in jails, it is unfair that we are now being criticised by the elements who abandoned the country," the prime minister said while talking to reporters after his address at a gems and jewellery exhibition at a local hotel.
He refused to comment on the case of the chief justice's son, saying the matter was sub-judice. Referring to the law and order situation in Karachi, he said that maintenance of law and order was a provincial subject and the federal government could not interfere in the matter. "The federal government is constantly in touch with the provincial government over the issue of law and order in Karachi, and law enforcement agencies have been directed to take stringent measures against miscreants and terrorist elements," he added.
To a question regarding NATO supplies, he said Pakistan's 24 soldiers had lost their lives in the Salala incident, which lead to blockage of the supplies. "Such an action necessitated ban on NATO supplies, and obviously there was no question of any external pressure on that issue," Gilani said, adding that the Shamsi Airbase was vacated by foreign troops on the government's orders.
"We are an honourable nation, and honourable nations never comprise on their sovereignty and integrity," he said. Those threatening long marches have been forced to cancel their marches, he added.
To another question regarding the financial situation of the country, Gilani said that despite a weak economy, the government would make no imprudent moves.
Responding to a question regarding the energy crisis, he said Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) chief Nawaz Sharif was responsible for the problem, as he had stopped the projects started by former prime minister Benazir Bhutto's government to overcome the shortage of energy in the country.
The prime minister also appreciated the gems and jewellery exhibition, saying it would have a positive effect on the country's economy and investment initiatives.
The government would extend all possible support to the gems and jewellery sector, he said.
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