RAWALPINDI, Nov 24: The Director-General, ISPR, Maj- Gen Rashid Qureshi, said on Saturday that the government is engaged in negotiations with the coalition forces and the International Committee of the Red Cross for safe evacuation of Pakistanis from Kunduz province, Afghanistan.
He said this while talking to reporters after attending a graduation function at a local school.
General Qureshi said these people would be tried according to laws of the country, if handed over to Pakistan or the international laws, if given in the custody of the United Nations.
The government, he said, had been doing everything possible to avert a Mazar-i-Sharif-like massacre and added that in that city, hundreds of Taliban’s supporters, including Pakistanis, had been killed.
“These people had violated the law by going to Afghanistan without the permission of the government and without valid documents. But we have been doing everything to evacuate them on humanitarian grounds,” he added.
Gen Qureshi defended Pakistan’s position regarding its cooperation with the coalition forces, saying every country had appreciated the stand taken by the government.
About formation of government in Afghanistan, he said Pakistan’s point of view had been accepted and things were moving in the direction suggested by the latter.
Elaborating, Gen Qureshi said Pakistan stood for unity and integrity of Afghanistan, a broad-based government representing all the sects and factions and a government which was according to wishes of the Afghan.
Replying to a question, Gen Qureshi said Pakistan had gained a lot from its support to the coalition forces.
Replying to a question, he said the border with Afghanistan had not become insecure, and added that regular troops had been deployed there. He denied that there was any deal for the return of Benazir Bhutto.
Asked in what constitutional position the tenure of President Pervez Musharaf would be extended, Gen Qureshi said the National Reconstruction Bureau would decide about it. A questionnaire would be published to know the views of the masses , he added.
LAW MINISTER: The federal Law Minister, Shahida Jamil, responding to a question about balance of power between the district Nazim and the district police chief, said the latter would be accountable to the former.
Replying to a question about elections in the cantonments, Shahida Jamil said amendments, if necessary, would be made to the Constitution to bring the cantonments, a federal subject, in conformity with the local government system.
The minister denied reports that any amendments were being made to the Constitution. Whenever there was any such thing, it would be done openly, she added.
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