Reopening of NATO route: PML-N calls Gilani’s statements confusing

Iqbal claims PM was trying to confuse nation over issues linked with supremacy of Constitution, national security.

ISLAMABAD/ LAHORE:

Prime Minister Gilani is commander of the Pakistani Nato (No Action, Talk Only) and the commander is trying to fool the nation over important matters, a top PML-N leader said on Thursday.

While responding to the assertions of Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani, PML-N leader Ahsan Iqbal claimed that the prime minister was trying to confuse the nation over core issues linked with the supremacy of the Constitution and national security.

He was of the view that the prime minister and his party were also acting like a Nato in Pakistan; its one-point agenda being No Action, Talk Only. He claimed that Gilani was not interested in strengthening the Constitution and the rule of law but was trying to complete his term by hook or by crook.

He was talking to reporters at the Allama Iqbal Airport here on Thursday.

“If he has still some self-respect left, he should have stepped down honouring the Supreme Court’s verdict, but he wants to be remembered as a cowboy…yes…Gilani has the right of appeal but he should exercise it after leaving the premier’s post, and once he proves his innocence, he can become prime minister again, if he cannot live without the post,” Ahsan said.

Another PML-N member claimed that the prime minister was stubborn in his attitude despite the fact that he was a convicted chief executive of Pakistan now and should immediately leave the prime minister’s office.

Opposition parties and members of the Parliamentary Committee on National Security (PCNS) have expressed their reservations over the government’s intention to reopen the Nato supply route soon. A member of the PCNS, who is from the opposition and who asked not to be named, claimed that the prime minister was trying to calm down the frayed tempers, though the issue had been settled between the government of Pakistan and the US. He added that “the government might have cut an underhand deal with the US and the recommendations of the PCNS will have a place only in the library of parliament, as it has no worth.”

Replying to a question about the government’s “confusing” statements on the reopening of Nato supply route, the Chairman of the PCNS, Senator Raza Rabbani, said until the government took a concrete decision to implement recommendations of the PCNS and a final review of terms of engagement with the US that were approved by parliament unanimously was made, he would not comment on the issue of Nato supplies.

Earlier in the day while referring to the PML-N’s criticism with regard to his status after the verdict of the Supreme Court, Prime Minister Gilani had claimed that the PML-N was trying to  get the verdict of the Supreme Court implemented by force and teach him the intricacies of the Constitution. He also tried to parry questions about the Nato issue by saying that “negotiations are under way with the US and the PCNS will not be bypassed’

Imran’s reaction

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Chairman Imran Khan claimed here on Thursday that if the Nato supply route was restored against the recommendations of parliament, then such a parliament was useless.

Talking to media persons at Allama Iqbal Airport, he said about Rs66,000 a minute were being spent on parliament, which was a sheer waste of money as the parliament’s recommendations went unheeded.

He said a national conference on the Nato supply route issue was due to be held on May 29.

Shah Mahmood Qureshi, Javed Hashmi and Dr Arif Alvi had been tasked with organising the conference, he added. He said the US would have to stop drone attacks.

He reiterated his stance that Pakistan should get out of the war on terror and try to resolve the matter through talks. (Additional input by Online)

Published in The Express Tribune, May 18^th, 2012.