ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani on Thursday announced the beginning of a phased return home for the three million IDPs belonging to the militancy-hit areas of Malakand, starting July 13.

Speaking at a news conference at PM house (his third in as many days) Mr. Gilani said the government had achieved the targets of military operation started some four weeks back in the restive Swat valley and other troubled areas Malakand division, and the IDPs will now start returning under a plan to be chalked out by Special Services Group (SSG).

The Prime Minister defended his late night advice to president Asif Ali Zardari for promulgation of an ordinance to offset the economic effect of the Supreme Court’s suspension of a carbon tax on petroleum products and said ‘the said tax was levied with the approval of the national assembly which represents 160 million people of Pakistan.’

The late night presidential ordinance has enhanced premium motor gasoline price to Rs.62.13 per liter from reduced price of Rs.50.19 under apex court order, HOBC to Rs.78.78 against 59.12, high speed diesel price has been re-fixed at Rs.62.65 light diesel to Rs.54.94 and Kerosene oil to Rs.59.35.

‘Whatever the court would decide, he hoped would be for strengthening of parliament and, we would respect it after it hears the government’s economic team opinion,’ he said. Meanwhile, the apex court will be requested to give the government team time to return home from abroad.

When asked if the military operation would be called off despite the fact that the top militants were still at large, the Prime Minister said the provincial government may call in the army wherever and whenever required.

On IDPs’ return, Mr. Gilani said the SSG under Gen. Nadeem would chalk out a plan on basis of various union councils.

He said security issue relating to the terror hit areas will be resolved before start of IDPs returns to their homes, adding that the electricity, gas, banks had already been restored.

Mr. Gilani said the government had refrained from setting up a separate institution to handle the IDP problem, but at the same time talked of an institution to be headed by the Prime minister along with chief ministers, Inspector General Police and representatives of provincial and federal Governments for preparation of an assessment report about the losses incurred in the wake of military operation.

SSG was independent in giving proposals for providing relief to the host families who accommodated the IDPs in their homes.

Mr. Gilani asked the international community to bear with the government to follow its home-grown policy of fighting terrorism as it was fighting its own war and termed the drone attacks as counter-productive.

‘We don’t need to convince them, but if they really want to help us; they should stop the drone attacks,’ he quipped.

In response to a query, Mr. Gilani said he was in favour of judicial activism and had even gone to jail for this pursuit.

He refused to comment when quizzed as to why N-league had supported unanimous passage of budget by parliament if it was going to challenge the bill in the Supreme Court. He stressed however, that the PDL levy case was pending since 2007 in which PPP’s Rukhsana Zubairi and Iqbal Zafar Jhagra were the complainants.