Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani has said that the US does want to apologise for its attack on the Salala check post but that would not bring martyred soldiers back to life.
He stressed that some leaders are of the opinion that an apology would make a difference but the government has made it clear to US that new mechanisms will have to be evolved in order to restore hampered bilateral ties.
Talking to Daily Express in an exclusive interview at the PM House in Islamabad, he highlighted that world leaders had asked him to send a Pakistani delegate to the Bonn Conference. However, he deemed it inappropriate in national interest to do so.
He said that he had to go through many difficult times during his four-year tenure as prime minister but never once he thought of turning a blind eye to the party interests.
He also revealed, during the course of the interview, that an important person came to the PM house in order to have a letter written to be sent to Swiss authorities. However, the premier made it clear that he would not allow that even if it led to his losing the PM office.
He reiterated again that President Asif Ali Zardari could not be held responsible for the Memogate scandal.
On Qureshi
He made it clear that he had told Chaudhry Nisar that Shah Mehmood Qureshi will not join Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) because the architects of Musharraf’s party are working for people to join Tehreek-i-Insaf.
He added that he did not want to change Shah Mehmood Qureshi’s ministry but the president was not happy with him.
During the portfolio reshuffle, he had told Qureshi that he will be given the ministry of Water and Power and if time permitted later on, he will be returned his foreign ministry.
Gilani added that Qureshi had asked for seven seats for his family. These included Rahimyar Khan as well as Jalalpur Pirwala seat.
“I prefer party interests over personal aspirations,” Gilani concluded.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 13th, 2011.
COMMENTS (25)
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Its in our interest to work with US! Let's drop the attitude!
At least they apologize for their mistake. What about Taliban, Killing your soldiers everyday and still you are planning to have peace talk with them and people are supporting you. What a SHAME!
March towards $700 million started. Wait for more excuses and logic to their filthy hands on the money!
@Ashraf P: yeh....US attack on iraq, afghanistan etc are the glaring evidences.
@Muhammad Arshad
Eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth
Does that mean Bangladeshis are entitled to kill 3 million Pakistanis
a good stand.
While you're in this justice-for-all mood Mr.Gilani, how about justice for the nearly 200 people killed in Mumbai? The perpetrators are getting VIP treatment in Pakistan. What goes around, comes around Mr.Gilani.
@S: "Unbelievable statement.. . . . .there is something called ‘Respect for Human life’ " against an unbelievable act. What would be your response if your father or son is killed by some rogue?
There is life in punishment. Think of society and do not have sympathy for those extremists who take life unauthorisedly.
While I have sympathy for the loss of 24 innocent lives, the Pakistani government had never bothered to make any issues whenever they lost innocent lives due to terror attack. Is it because such attacks were organized by terrorists considered as strategic assets?
@rk
Check history, I'm not fan of PLMN but to my knowledge Nawaz Sharif did apologized to Bangladesh and we do feel pain trough which they were gone through.
Correct Mr.PM and also the life's of innocent civilians died in drones attacks.
Going by the same logic, may we ask him if revisiting the ZAB case would bring ZAB back?
48 in response of 24...
@Hairaan: Devil asks eye for eye, God is loving and forgiving !!
US has never offered an apology !
And what about the 3 millionpeople who were massacared in 1971? Any apologies or compensation?
@Ashraf P:
Do not dispute wisdom of Allah. If the prescribed punishment is given to a few, it will stop further loss of eyes and teeth by other criminals who intend to harm others.
Unbelievable statement.. . . . .there is something called 'Respect for Human life' . . .
@Ashraf P: Knowingly or unknowingly you are mocking Quranic verse and God's law.
Eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth will leave the whole world blind and toothless.
“I prefer party interests over personal aspirations,” Gilani concluded.
thats why your son is contesting the election from Multan on party ticket?
Unbelievable manly statement by the PM. Though I don't Believe these words are of PM but I still give him Thumbs up!