Kashmir solution vital for peace in region: Gilani

LAHORE

Former prime minister Syed Yusaf Raza Gilani has said without the solution to Kashmir dispute, peace and stability can never take its roots in the region.

He said whatever form of democracy existed in Pakistan it was the outcome of Charter of Democracy signed by Shaheed Benazir Bhutto and Nawaz Sharif. 

According to a press release addressing a seminar held at a private university  on Wednesday, the former premier further said war on terror caused awful and beyond compensation loss of precious lives and infrastructure but even then, we kept our spirit of fighting against terrorism. 

Yusaf Raza Gilani said sacrifices of agencies such as Levies, FC and ISI were matchless to keep peace and stability in the country. “They have sacrificed today to make our tomorrow secure”, he said.

Warning India against any adventure, the former premier said today, Pakistan’s defense was in safer hands because its military was one of the world’s best militaries fully capable of paying the enemy in the same coin. He said Pakistanis were peace-loving nation adhering to principles of peace and harmony with their neighbours but in case of any aggression, they were fully prepared and no force could terrify them.

He said war between India and Pakistan was not the solution to problems. “Both the nations are nuclear, so the war will only bring destruction and diseases for both sides of the border”, he added.

He said Indian government’s bombast to wage surgical strike on Pakistani soil was based on white lie and now even the opposition in Indian parliament was questioning the credibility of the government and their military for making such false claims. He criticised the so-called human rights activists who are silent over blood and murder in Kashmir.

Gilani said the Constitution’s clause 58 2b was aimed at empowering dictators and it was the reason why his government abolished it but Iftikhar Ch exercised the power of 58 2b and disqualified him for five years alleging that he had committed contempt of the court. 

Talking about US-Pakistan  relations, Gilani said Pakistan had great respect for United States and wanted to improve relations based on equality and mutual interest but United States had no right to repeat its so-called demand of “Do More”.

He said Pakistan was bearing a burden of 3.5 million Afghan refugees after the collapse of Soviet Union but nobody including US was talking about this.

The university Rector Dr Hasan Sohaib Murad briefed the former premier about future projects, newly established institute in Dubai, bureau office in Turkey and university’s international linkages with US, British, Australian, Canadian and German universities.