KARACHI, Jan 10: Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani on Saturday berated the international community for “double standards” in its reaction over atrocities in Kashmir and Palestinian territories on the one hand, and the Mumbai attacks on the other.

The prime minister squashed speculations that the government had made a tacit understanding with the US to allow air strikes inside Pakistan.

Mr Gilani made it clear that the PPP would support any consensus bill to repeal the 17th Amendment.

He was talking to reporters after laying the foundation stone of a trauma centre at a cost of Rs 2.5 billion trauma centre at Karachi’s Civil Hospital. The centre has been named after Benazir Bhutto. The ceremony was held at the Chief Minister’s House.

Referring to the “pro-active and intrusive” approach of the world powers on the Mumbai attacks, Prime Minister Gilani wondered why no one objected when Israel killed countless civilians in Palestine and India in Kashmir, adding that people in both disputed territories were struggling for their fundamental right to freedom and self-determination.

He urged the international community to change its stance and speak out against aggression in both regions.

Pakistan, he added, had made a positive response after the Mumbai tragedy and promised to cooperate in investigations and bring the perpetrators to justice, adding that Pakistan itself was facing a grave threat from terrorists.

“Terrorism and external threats are Pakistan’s main enemies and Pakistan has to defend not only itself but also to protect India from such elements,” he said.

Mr Gilani referred to the suicide attack on Benazir Bhutto’s rally on Oct 18, 2007, and the Marriot Hotel terrorist attack, wondering why the two incidents had not pricked the world’s conscience.

He dispelled reports about differences between him and President Asif Ali Zardari,emphasising that “we are following the party’s manifesto”.

In reply to questions about the PML-N’s attempt to move a bill in the National Assembly for the repeal of the 17th Amendment, Mr Gilani said that if there was a consensus bill, the PPP would support it.

Despite the tug-of-war between the coalition partners in Punjab, Mr Gilani denied that the PPP-led government was trying to destabilise the Shahbaz Sharif coalition

He said as the PPP wanted to forge harmony, it had formed a broad-based government in other provinces as well.

He made it clear that the PPP did not want instability and wanted the assemblies to complete their five-year term. He said that “our common enemy is terrorism which has to be eliminated”.

In reply to a question about President Zardari’s claim that he knew who had killed

Benazir Bhutto, the prime minister said that the matter would be investigated by the UN.

Mr Gilani said that if Rehman Malik, the adviser on interior, were to carry out an inquiry, people could say that it was being conducted by the PPP itself.

When asked to comment on the sacking of National Security Adviser Mehmud Ali

Durrani, the prime minister said there was no need for further elaboration.

In reply to questions about the reunification of Muslim League, Mr Gilani said that he would not comment because it was “their internal matter”.