PESHAWAR: Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani said on Thursday that all the state institutions were working within constitutional ambit and urged the nation to forge unity in its ranks for countering the challenges.
Talking to newsmen after chairing first ever federal cabinet meeting at Governor House here, the Prime Minister urged the people not to pay heed to rumours and work for the progress and stability of the country.
Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Dr Firdous Ashaq Awan, Governor of Khyber Pakthunkhwa Barrister Masood Kausar and Chief Minister Ameer Haider Khan Hoti were also present on the occasion.
The Prime Minister stressed the need for unity and cohesion, saying that the challenges should be faced with courage and steadfastness. Replying to a question regarding the decisions taken by the government in the aftermath of NATO attacks on army posts in Mohmand Agency, the Prime Minister said all the decisions taken by the elected government reflected the nation's aspirations and the decisions taken by the Defence Cabinet Committee were endorsed by Parliamentary Committee on National Security and Cabinet.
The decisions were also taken in accordance with the resolutions of All Parties Conference and Parliament, he added. The Prime Minister said the whole nation supported the new terms of engagement with the United States keeping the national interest and sovereignty of the country supreme.
Gilani said that the government would secure guarantee from the US to ensure Pakistan's sovereignty as "enough is enough." "We need surety and guarantee for the protection of country's sovereignty and such unilateral action should not occur in future," he added.
The Prime Minister said there would be no compromise on the country's integrity and sovereignty. Answering another question, the Prime Minister rejected holding talks with the Taliban.
Talks would be held with those militants who surrendered to the political agent as per the customs of tribal areas and denounced militancy and extremism, he added. The Prime Minister said Pakistan wanted a stable, progressive and sovereign Afghanistan which was also in its own interest. "We have common border and will live together forever while the aliens will have to go from the region one day," he explained.
He said both Pakistan and Afghanistan have common enemy and have heavily suffered due to terrorism. The Prime Minister said record Rs 1.5 trillion have been spent on development projects in the country during last four years.
He directed the authorities for early start of construction work on the Peshawar Northern By-pass.
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