March 19, 2003	Wednesday	Muharram 15, 1424

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ISLAMABAD, March 18: Pakistan is against war as it would bring nothing but misery to the people of Iraq, said Prime Minister Mir Zafarullah Khan Jamali here on Tuesday.

He told a group of reporters at Balochistan House that his government would never endorse an attack on Iraq.

“I don’t know whether President Bush’s ultimatum to Saddam Hussain is legal or illegal and I leave this issue to them”, he added.

Responding to a question, the prime minister said that he was visiting the United States on March 26 at the invitation of the US government. “So far there is no change in my schedule but if war erupts then we will look into it,” he added.

About his visit to China preceding Washington Mr Jamali said: “My visit to China is very important at this stage and I am sure this will further strengthen our relations”.

In reply to a question the prime minister said that there will be an expansion in the federal cabinet shortly; portfolios would also be shuffled.

The prime minister termed “rubbish” the notion that there were not sufficient oil stocks in the country in view of the threat of war in the region. “We have taken all measures to ensure adequate oil reserves and other essential commodities,” he said.

Referring to the LFO Mr Jamali said that his government was ready to hold dialogue with the opposition on Legal Framework Order to resolve the matter amicably.

“We regret over the irresponsible attitude of the opposition and hope that they would not repeat that”, he said.

He said the parliamentary leader of PML-Q Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain had already started talks with the opposition on the issue.

DIPLOMATS: The prime minister told reporters at the National Assembly that the Pakistan embassy in Baghdad had been closed, but the diplomats were still there.

He said Foreign Minister Khurshid Mahmood Kasuri was in constant touch with other member states of the Organization of Islamic Conference regarding the Iraq Issue.