Pakistan's foreign policy is successful: Premier Gilani

LAHORE: Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani on Sunday said that Pakistan had got many achievements on the foreign front, saying its foreign policy was successful.

"Afghan President Hamid Karzai's unconditional support to Pakistan against foreign aggression, India's vote to Pakistan in the UN Security Council and country's renewed role in the European Union (EU) reflect the effectiveness of our foreign policy," he said during a press conference after a meeting with PML-Q leadership at Zahoor Elahi House here.

Regarding Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif's recent statements, the Prime Minister said Shahbaz Sharif was merely tarnishing the image of his own fraternity through baseless allegations of corruption but others could also level similar allegations against Shahbaz Sharif, adding that PML-N's corruption mantra could not deceive people any more.

With reference to accountability of PML-N, Gilani said there was a fine line between accountability and revenge and Nawaz Sharif used Saif-ur-Rehman for political vendetta and victimization during his tenure, adding that PPP had not tried to be 'bitter' against opponents for their past mistakes.

With reference to PML-N rally against the Federal Government, the Prime Minister said that Shahbaz Sharif should keep Punjab in the mainstream politics, but his actions were isolating the province politically. The people were fed up with ransacking politics, he added.

He said PML-N's recent agitation against the government was merely aimed at proving itself a genuine opposition party and dissipating Imran Khan's impact in Punjab.

Regarding Shahbaz Sharif's statement to reject elections under President Asif Ali Zardari, he said Shahbaz Sharif's statement was unconstitutional and undemocratic, specially when the Sharifs had publicly pronounced not to resort to unconstitutional actions for the sake of democracy.

He said an independent Election Commission (EC) was working in the country and the members of the EC were elected through consensus and consultation of the Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly.A notification of the Constitution of EC will be issued soon, he added.

The Prime Minister said it was amazing why PML-N was bent upon unconstitutional steps when constitutional options were available and added that PML-N should exhibit political maturity.

"It is not sure whether the Sharifs will be part of the anti-government rally on October 28 or not," he said.

When asked about his reconciliatory role to bring PML-N out of political estrangement, the Prime Minister said it was yet to be seen whether his role would be required, stressing the general elections were far away and would be held in 2013.

Rejecting the idea of any role for the army in politics, Gilani said, "Don't drag the army into politics. The army is a disciplined institution and it has nothing to do with politics of the country."

Copyright APP (Associated Press of Pakistan), 2011