FBI not involved in raid: Jamali: No decision yet on Sindh governor
By Intikhab Hanif
LAHORE, Dec 21: Prime Minister Mir Zafarullah Khan Jamali has categorically denied that the United States FBI was involved in the operation in which Dr Ahmad Javed Khwaja and his eight family members were arrested from Manawan on the suspicion of their link with the Al Qaeda.
“The operation was conducted by the Pakistan law enforcement agencies,” he told a questioner at his first press conference at the State Guest House here on Saturday after having been elected as prime minister 28 days back.
“I have talked to the Punjab governor and the chief minister on the issue and an inquiry is already being conducted into it. The findings of the inquiry will be made public. We will ensure that such incidents are not repeated in future. If (the action) proves unjustified, we will compensate for the mistake,” said the prime minister.
When pointed out that all newspapers had reported the presence of the FBI agents during the raid, Jamali said everything would become clear after completion of the inquiry.
In his opening remarks, he urged all politicians and the press to keep the national interest above all considerations.
He avoided to give direct answers to the questions relating to the president’s decision to retain the office of the Chief of Army Staff, the controversial LFO, rift in the PML-Q and the legal status of the legislators who have defected their parties to join his government.
SINDH GOVERNOR: To a query, Jamali said MQM leader Dr Ishratul Ibad had not, so far, been named for the office of the Governor of Sindh. He also assured a journalist that the government would not encourage any criminal.
He said the process of accountability must continue and the concept of rule of law should be applied to everyone. “As an MNA, I was the first to demand accountability in 1993.”
He said his government would not arrest anyone on political grounds. However, he added, the courts would decide the cases already registered against politicians.
Federal Information Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmad, Manpower and Overseas Minister Abdus Sattar Laleka, Punjab Governor Khalid Maqbool and Chief Minister Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi were also present at the news conference.
The prime minister also held a closed door meeting with the governor and the chief minister, visited the mausoleum of Allama Iqbal and the shrine of Hazrat Data Gunj Bakhsh and offered prayers at the Badshahi mosque before addressing the press conference.
NO RIFT: He denied a rift in the PML-Q, saying Mian Mohammad Azhar was still the president of the party. “Four days ago, I had promised to visit his residence today (Friday). I’m keeping my commitment and hope that he will honour his words,” he said.
When asked about his reaction to a statement of the Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal (MMA) that it would put up resistance to arrests in the NWFP on suspicion of links with Al Qaeda and Taliban, he said he would not take any action. They themselves would be responsible for the consequences, he remarked, avoiding a direct answer to the question.
Replying to a question about the continuation of the Musharraf government’s policies, he said the days of hiring people by one government and firing them by another had gone. Now, the policies that suit Pakistan would continue. “We would follow all policies, including those on defence and foreign affairs, which are in the interest of the country,” he stressed.
When asked about Pakistan’s reaction in case of an American attack on Iraq, Jamali told the questioner to go through Pakistan’s history to know which countries had stood by it whenever it faced difficulties in the past.
He said Pakistan would announce a date for the Saarc summit after assessing the recent Indian statement in which it had reportedly expressed its willingness to participate in the meeting if Pakistan fixed a date.
The prime minister said his government would complete its five-year term, hoping that he would get a vote of confidence from the National Assembly on Dec 30. “We will abide by the political norms if I fail to obtain the vote of confidence,” he said.
Replying to a question on complete restoration of the Constitution and administering fresh oath to judges under it, he asked the journalists to wait for a while. “Time will answer your question.”
DEFECTORS: He told a questioner to direct the question about “defectors” to their parties. “We have not made anyone to defect his (or her) party nor did we interfere with the process of government formation in Sindh.”
Jamali remarked that the legislators, who had defected their parties had acted on the call of their conscience. “It happens even in the US and Britain, the mother of democracy. Everybody respects law but he also has to consider what is best for the country,” he said.
When asked what would be his reaction if 50 MNAs of his party defected on the call of their conscience, he said: “If they want to do so, they may go.”
When a columnist asked him to request President Gen Pervez Musharraf to wear his army uniform only at the army meetings and functions, the prime minister said the “general did not consult me or you when he became president.” He got validation from the Supreme Court. “Since you have accepted him as such, I, too, followed the suit,” he said.
KASHMIR: Jamali said Pakistan’s policy on Kashmir was clear and his government would continue it.
He said despite having different policies and party affiliations all politicians must work for the welfare of the country.
International politics, he further said, required facilitation of others. “America attacked Afghanistan only after consulting its allies. When they can facilitate each other, why can’t we do so.”
The premier said certain politicians were used to say different things on different occasions. This was hypocrisy and, if this continued, the politicians would once again lose respect of the people, he added.
He said conducting accountability of the government was the job of the people and their mandate must be respected. Only God could correct them who did not accept the reality.
Jamali said confrontation and allegations would destroy the system but still there were elements who hurled blames on the government after their failure to induct their chief minister in Sindh. “I was accused of interfering in Sindh. But my interference was only to the extent that I brought Chaudhry Shujaat and Makhdoom Amin Fahim together at one table and facilitated a dialogue between them,” he said.
He said for the first time in Pakistan a military government had peacefully transferred power to the civilians. “The central and provincial governments are functioning.”
