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| Musharraf is a brand, says Shaukat |
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Tuesday, August 21, 2007
Mayed Ali
LAHORE: Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz has said the government does not intend to impose emergency in the country at the moment but nothing could be said about the future.
Addressing queries of editors and columnists at the Governor’s House here on Monday, the prime minister said the possibility of the imposition of emergency in the future could not be ruled out.
When asked about the chances of martial law, he simply evaded the question. He linked both the possibilities to the overall stability in the country, which, to him, was largely dependent on the continuity of President Musharraf’s policies.
Shaukat was emphatic while supporting the president’s re-election, saying: “The president is a brand in the world, which would be of great advantage to the country.” He said the president’s election was the main event in the political calendar of the country, hoping that the issue would be handled carefully and resolved amicably.
He was of the view that the president’s re-election was imperative for the continuation of the policies introduced during his tenure. “We expect there will be no hurdle in his election, and he will be successful.
The prime minister said the general elections would be held after the president’s election. However, he added, the general elections would be held under the supervision of an interim set-up instead of a caretaker government.
Talking about the prospects of his party in the elections, Shaukat said the PML would reap the benefits of its successful economic and foreign policies. He said the government had succeeded in reaching out to the people to a great extent; however, more was required to achieve that end. “A lot still needs to be done. We are at the takeoff stage and the continuity of President Pervez Musharraf’s policies is critical for securing a better future.”
Talking about the government’s contacts with leaders of various opposition parties, he Shaukat said the government had been in touch with different leaders for quite some time. However, he said the frequency of such contacts had risen in the recent past.
He was of the view that the contacts were necessary for forging harmony among different political forces at this point in time though the fate of political parties would be decided when put to the ballot.
The PM ruled out pre-election electoral understanding with any political party, suggesting a post-election alliance with any party, depending on the options at hand. Answering queries about the return and possible arrest of exiled leaders, he said there were legal issues in the case of PML-N leaders. He said he could not comment as the matter was sub judice.
However, he said the Sharifs had gone abroad of their own accord in the wake of the government’s agreement with a friendly country subject to the condition that they would not return home for 10 years.
Talking about Benazir Bhutto, Shaukat said some cases against her were pending adjudication in the court. “There are various cases against her under different jurisdictions. Whether she comes or not will be her own decision.”
He further said Benazir knew her legal position vis-a-vis multiple cases against her in Pakistan and abroad so “it would be her call”.
Shaukat said the government had the option to arrest the PPP chairperson if legal reasons so warranted. He said no final understanding had been reached with any party on imminent political developments. Nevertheless, he added, any of the political leaderships in Pakistan could be contacted.
Talking about extremism, he said it was a great challenge facing the nation. He informed the gathering that the government had identified the suicide attackers in Islamabad and subsequently apprehended a few people. He said the government would make the details public at the right time.
About the Jamia Hafsa incident, the prime minister said he had himself talked to the Madrassa students, who disclosed that the militants inside the complex were well-trained in advanced weaponry for any sort of combat engagement. He said the combatants had been using Dumdum bullets, besides having bulletproof gadgets for enhancing survivability in the combat situation.
The PM said he had met the guardians and parents of 58 missing students. “Out of these 58 missing students, 33 DNA matches have been made and the number is rising,” he said.
Talking about the unrest in the tribal areas, he said it was in reaction to the government’s initiative of establishing check-posts there. “We are determined not to allow any activity on our soil that affects the country from within or without.”
About the threat of foreign invasion, he said the government would not let anything affect national sovereignty. “We know how to look after our nuclear assets. We will risk everything for protecting our national security.” He said no one would be allowed to violate Pakistan’s territorial borders and no foreign force would be permitted to act inside Pakistan’s frontiers.
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ISSN 1563-9479 
