September 15, 2008	Monday	Ramazan 14, 1429

KARACHI, Sept 14: Leader of the House in the Senate Mian Raza Rabbani has said that no intrusion into Pakistani territory by any foreign power would be tolerated, and said that the Pakistan military was capable of defending every inch of the country.

Speaking as chief guest at an Iftar dinner hosted by the PPP’s district East leadership on Sunday, Mian Rabbani criticised the United States for intrusion in Waziristan and Fata.

He said there was no difference of ideas or opinion among President Asif Zardari, the armed forces and all coalition partners on the safeguards the country’s sovereignty and integrity.

“Our armed forces are fully capable of countering terrorists and anti-state elements,” he said, adding that the situation along the country’s borders demanded unity, harmony and solidarity among all segments of our society.

Sindh Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah, who also attended the dinner, said that the PPP was determined to alleviate poverty, curtail unemployment and eliminate illiteracy by pursuing the philosophy, manifesto and policies of its founder chairman, Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, and the programme given by his daughter Benazir Bhutto. Work on different projects relating to the programmes and policies had already been initiated, he added.

Mr Shah said it was the great sacrifice offered by Benazir Bhutto for the cause of democracy that provided impetus to the masses to uproot dictatorship from the country and bring back democracy through the power of the ballot.

PPP Karachi division president Faisal Raza Abidi also spoke.