Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani has said the decision about the reopening of Nato supplies and future relations with the United States would be decided by the Parliament. The prime minister expressed these views on Sunday while talking to media at Chaklala Airbase prior to leaving for a four-day visit to Seoul, South Korea, to attend Second Nuclear Security Summit on 26-27 March.
He said: "No one will be allowed to bulldoze parliament decisions. A consensus will be developed on the issue of Afghan route reopening. The parliament was never bypassed in the past nor anyone would be allowed to bulldoze its decision."
Responding to another question, he said that the recent statements of the opposition made it evident that the government never bulldozed proceedings in the parliament. "Why do they think that we will bulldoze the proceedings?" he questioned.
He said all the parties had representation in the Parliamentary Committee on National Security (PCNS). "The recommendations of the Committee on foreign policy were not only of the government but the members of the Opposition also put their signatures on them," he said.
He said that consensus would be developed among all stakeholders for taking decision about Nato supplies.
The prime minister said that well-placed command and control system of Pakistan's nuclear assets had been ensured and nobody should have any doubt about it.
Commenting on the summit, the prime minister said that talks in Seoul would focus mainly on how to further protect nuclear weapons.
Answering to a question, Gilani said he would meet with United States President Barack Obama on the sidelines of the summit and discuss the situation in Afghanistan.
He said that the government also took the decisions to boycott the Bonn Conference and got the Shamsi airbase vacated.
Answering to another question, the prime minister said that Pakistan had already talked on civil nuclear technology with the US.
He said that Pakistan wanted access of civil nuclear technology which was required for development of the country. "Pakistan wants civil nuclear technology to meet its energy requirements "Civil nuclear technology has been our requirement and we have been demanding it."
He said the nuclear technology is important for Pakistan to maintain balance with India and to promote regional stability.
"If we do not have balance with India, then there will be lack of stability in the region," he observed.
Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar and Pakistan's ambassador to the US Sherry Rehman are also accompanying the prime minister.
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