Political muscle: ‘PML-N building on PPP’s anti-terrorism policies’

Gillani says Bilalwal will address public gathering in Rahim Yar Khan on March 26

MULTAN: The National Accountability Bureau and the judiciary have never held a serving leader accountable, former prime minister Yousaf Raza Gillani said in his address at the Multan Press Club on Wednesday.

He said during his Pakistan Peoples Party-led government had vowed to eliminate terrorism. “There is no distinction between good and bad Taliban. We are partners of America in the war against terrorism but we should keep our interests ahead of others.”

He said as an independent country, Pakistan should not forgo its national interests in the war against terror.

The PPP had backed amendments to the Constitution and had participated fully in the democratic process. “We completely support the military operation, the National Action Plan and the establishment of military courts,” the PPP leader said.

The government led by the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz has taken PPP’s policies forward, Gillani said.  “This government has been successful in building on our hard work vis-à-vis terrorism and the nation supports it.”

Gillani said that Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif should consult every political party before deciding on important matters.

As PM, Sharif should try to take all political parties along, he said. “We granted provinces autonomy by passing the 18th Constitutional Amendment and restored the Constitution in its original form.”

Gillani said PPP chairperson Bilawal Bhutto will launch his political career in the Punjab soon. “He will address a public gathering in Rahim Yar Khan on March 26.” He said that Bhutto will also meet delegations of the PPP’s women wing and will address a women’s convention in Bahawalpur on March 27 and 28. He said that PPP was participating in the local government elections in NA-153 on the basis of its performance.

Gillani congratulated Salmaan Taseer’s family on the recovery of Shahbaz Taseer who had been abducted in 2011. “The Taseer family has gone through a terrible time since 2011…I hope that security institutions will also find my son Ali Haider soon.”

Gillani said that his family had been deeply shaken over his son’s abduction. “I have no idea whether my son and Shahbaz Taseer were kept at the same place or in separate locations,” he said.

The PPP leader said he had visited the press club after eight years and congratulated Shakil Anjum, the recently elected president of the Multan Press Club. Gillani congratulated all the elected members of press club on behalf of his party.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 10^th, 2016.