December 3, 2002	Tuesday	Ramazan 27,1423

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RIYADH, Dec 2: The Jamali government will take a vote of confidence in parliament after Eidul Fitr, as soon as a government is formed in Sindh.

This was stated by Federal Information Minister Shaikh Rashid Ahmad while talking to Dawn by phone from Mekkah on Monday morning. Mr Rashid was here to perform Umra and offer Taraveeh prayers in Mekkah on the night of 27th Ramazan.

“We are in no hurry,” he added. “The constitution provides us with a two months timeframe to take the vote of confidence in parliament. We will take it as soon as the government in Sindh is formed,” he categorically stated.

In reply to a question about the government formation in Sindh, he said the process should be completed soon after Eid.

He was of the view that it was not clear as yet who would form the government in Sindh. However, he emphasised that whosoever party could muster support in the Sindh Assembly, would be allowed to form the government. He was confident that despite the departure of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement from the government ranks, no problems would be created for the government in Islamabad. “We are not worried about the development,” he asserted.

In reply to a question about rumours of the possibility of the Sharif family moving to London from the Kingdom, Shaikh Rashid said he had no information about any such move. “Any such deal has to be between the Saudi government and the Sharifs. I have no information about it. I have also not met Nawaz Sharif during my short visit,” he clarified.

Answering a question about the NWFP Chief Minister’s assertion that no foreign forces would be allowed to operate within the province, Shaikh Rashid said, there were no US forces operating in the NWFP currently. Only a few may be active in the tribal areas, which were outside the jurisdiction of the NWFP government. He reiterated that with the induction of the MMA government in Peshawar, there would be no change on the ground as far the situation in the NWFP and the tribal areas was concerned, he asserted.

The minister was confident that the Jamali government would be able to pull along with President Musharraf, without much problem, during this transitional phase. “Jamali Sahib is a cool and sensible person. Rather than confronting, he will cooperate with the President,” the minister added.

Shaikh Rashid also described the statement of President Putin about the safety of the nuclear arsenal of Pakistan as political. “No one, including President Putin, should be worried about Pakistan’s nuclear arsenal and its safety,” he said. “We are not worried about the statement,” he said.

On relations with India, the former student leader reiterated the government position and said: “We want to have good neighbourly relations with India. But no one should doubt Pakistan’s capabilities to respond in kind, if any aggression is launched against Pakistan.” Referring to a tirade of anti-Pakistan statements by the Indian leadership in the run-up to the Gujrat elections, Shaikh Rashid termed it “Advani’s adventurism.” He also blamed Indian Deputy Prime Minister Lal Krishan Advani for blocking the resumption of dialogue between the two countries.