No option except dialogue with Taliban: Gilani

04 Nov, 2013

MULTAN: Former Prime Minister and PPP leader Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani said that there was no option except holding dialogue with the Taliban as the country could not afford war.

Talking to journalists at local airport, Gilani said dialogue was the only way forward. He recalled the PPP regime had focused on three Ds - dialogue, development and deterrence.

Replying to a question, Gilani said the PPP had mandated the government to hold dialogue with the Taliban and it depend upon it how it initiated the process. To a query about suspension of Nato supplies, Gilani maintained his government had suspended Nato supplies for seven months protested strongly after the Salala incident and got vacated Shamsi airbase, suspended Nato supplies and did not participate in the Bonn conference.

He said the PPP government had opposed drone attacks as it thought they were counterproductive and against the sovereignty of the country.

To another question about opposition's silence over high prices in the country, Gilani remarked the parliament was the best forum to raise the issue. He, however, added the PPP would continue to fight for public rights.

Gilani also expressed reservations that three provinces were holding local government elections on party basis but Punjab was conducting them on non-party basis and also termed it pre-poll rigging.

Read Comments