Prime Minister's National Assembly speech termed dignified, inspiring policy statement

Federal Minister for Information & Broadcasting, Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan has said that Prime Minister Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani's speech delivered yesterday in the National Assembly on the subject of Osama Bin Laden's killing is a dignified, comprehensive and inspiring policy statement by the Government on the issue.
"The Prime Minister has taken all democratic forces, stakeholders and the people of Pakistan into confidence on the issue," said the Information Minister. "Furthermore, as a democratically elected Prime Minister of Pakistan addressing its House of Elected Representatives, he has presented a unequivocal stance of our country to the international community."
She said that the Prime Minister's address has very rightly dispelled the growing cynicism floating around in the media about the events of May 2 and its aftermath. "There had been numerous questions in the minds of the people on the Operation itself and its repercussions for territorial sovereignty of the country," she said. "The Prime Minister has very candidly placed the facts before the nation. He has taken the people into full confidence on the key challenges being faced by the country. His address has covered all the questions, which were in the minds of the people."
Stressing that the Prime Minister's policy statement should now lay to rest any unauthenticated reporting, baseless speculation, or fanciful interpretations, the Minister said that the Government is fully cognizant of its responsibility to provide truth to the people.
"We have been responding on the issue from day one with full and constant consultations with the military and security agencies," she added. "The Government is committed to the idea that all national institutions need to create a synchronized response on the issue in the best interests of the countrymen."
She urged that rather than getting into self-destructive blame gaming and hair-splitting, we should take the Government's policy statement as a starting point to form a comprehensive strategy to deal with the fallout of the events of May 2. Awan said that the joint session of the Parliament on May 13 will discuss the matter further, and it will hopefully formulate a future course of action in the light of new dynamics and ground realities.
The Minister said that it is the responsibility of all representative forces as well as State institutions to work towards a democratic convergence of vital national interests. "We need to forge an exemplary national unity to eliminate the menace of terrorism from Pakistan," she said. "The nation needs to stand united to put our country on a path of peace and prosperity."
She said that the Government has always facilitated foreign media personnel, whether it was 9/11, 2005 earthquake, 2008 elections, or 2010 floods. "We appreciate the attention accorded by international media to Pakistan," she said. "However, Pakistan's contributions to the war on terror should not be overlooked. The media needs to be rational and balanced in their approach. While we are extending all possible assistance to the media, we also expect them to respect and follow our laws like any other country in the world."-PR