KARACHI: Former prime minister Yousuf Raza Gilani said Friday that Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) government had not focused on launching an operation in North Waziristan during its tenure because former army chief General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani wanted the decision to be his alone, DawnNews reported.

Gilani's statement on the matter comes days after Major General (retd) Athar Abbas disclosed that Kayani was reluctant to launch a military operation in North Waziristan.

The revelations come weeks after the government of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif ordered Zarb-i-Azb to rid the tribal region of local and foreign militants.

Also read: ‘Kayani was reluctant to launch North Waziristan operation’

Addressing a press conference at a media cell in Bilawal House, the former premier said that the Pakistan Muslim League - Nawaz’s stance on and treatment of Musharraf was not appropriate.

He also claimed that the PPP had held talks with the establishment to remove the former military ruler from power.

Gilani claimed that during the negotiations, the former army strongman had been guaranteed a safe passage in exchange for tendering his resignation from the president's office.

He reiterated that the PPP had adhered to the reconciliation policy of assassinated former premier Benazir Bhutto, adding that it would not become party to those seeking to undermine democracy in the present scenario.

He said the PPP had endeavoured to strengthen the Parliament, adding that only then would the country’s institutions be strengthened.

Gilani also said that the PPP had restored the Constitution to its original form.

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Comments (26) Closed

IKE

Jul 11, 2014 03:50pm

PPP has matured.

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khuma

Jul 11, 2014 03:55pm

If they would have taken the protective measures in time the nation would not been witnessing the IDPs problems today. This is because of their poor strategy that we have sacrified more 70000 innocents including the persons of security establishment.

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sami

Jul 11, 2014 04:25pm

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif ordered Zarb-i-Azb to rid the tribal region of local and foreign militants. Really, PM ordered that operation?

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Jef

Jul 11, 2014 04:37pm

@khuma I don't think you understood what he said. He says the army chief said it would be his decision alone not a collective one, plus ex army chief was reluctant to launch the operation.

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mohammad shafique

Jul 11, 2014 04:47pm

mr gillani is forgetting a few things. safe passage was guaranteed to musharraf by ppp govt not PML nawaz--- and the safe passage was guaranteed only once. also nawaz sharifs treatment of musharraf is inappropriate in the sense that instead of handling him with kid gloves and letting him be detained in his villa he should arrest him and put him in prison while he awaits trial for treason and murder.

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venkataramana

Jul 11, 2014 04:51pm

Wow! What damage and destruction of an apparently well to do town! No doubt,any military action will result in similar fate for the locals.Perhaps,Gen.Kayani was hesitant to go ahead for that reason.Pakistani army will succeed in this operation,but they may not be a happy lot because no professional army will be ready to act against it's own people in it's own territory.Hopefully,Govt.of Pakistan will do a good job of rehabilitating the unfortunate victims.

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MSAlvi

Jul 11, 2014 05:26pm

@mohammad shafique Sorry to say this, but you are a very naive person. You cannot think of what is good for national interests.

Recommend 0

Jul 11, 2014 05:37pm

These politicians are so old school...... No authority, No responsibility but when it comes to taking credit, everyone will claim it. For any reason if this operation goes bad.... you can see how their statements will change.. as always!

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Ali

Jul 11, 2014 05:55pm

Why no accountability for Kayani? He was only interested in getting lucrative job for his brother

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M. Siddique

Jul 11, 2014 06:08pm

@sami, why not? It is PMs prerogative.

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AKNasser

Jul 11, 2014 06:33pm

Mr. Gilani should have also mentioned that thanks to generous amnesty issued by Gen.Musharraf ,the military dictator under the guise of NRO made possible the return of Benazir & AA Zardari along with other corrupt fugitives. No wonder he is saying that treatment of Musharraf was not appropriate.

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Parvez

Jul 11, 2014 07:47pm

Now every discredited politician or ' has been ' General wants to jump on the bandwagon as it's looking good............if this operation goes wrong they will be the first to criticize it.

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Shah, Canada

Jul 11, 2014 08:00pm

Time will tell if this operation is successful in the long run(pray that it is successful). Operation is still ongoing stop political scoring during this operation. PPP can you deliver something for Karachi people... which you have fail to do in decades of rule.

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Somroo

Jul 11, 2014 08:28pm

@IKE or Immatured.... see what PPP did to Karachi for last 10 yrs????

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Akhtar

Jul 11, 2014 09:12pm

Nawaz should let the Musharaff thing go. Nawaz himself is no saint. After all Musharaff let him off for what could of been a hanging offence.

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malick

Jul 11, 2014 09:22pm

@khuma ...dear, you will never understand, U please enhance your capacity. PPP is matured and always right. Jeay Bhutto

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Nizamuddin Ahmad Aali

Jul 11, 2014 09:47pm

I believe Mr. Jilani is right. How come we have come to a point where a army general is so powerful that a elected government has to negotiate with him on a very important issue. Actually this was the question of Pakistan's survival. Mr. Gilani had a President and head of his party who was afraid of losing power and another Marshall Law. Shame on us all. Ego can dictate the fate of millions of Pakistanis and the wrong doer goes unpunished.

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Ahmed

Jul 11, 2014 11:35pm

Why has this bird that sat on his nest when he should have been working to fight terrorism and lawlessness starting to sing now?

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Munz

Jul 11, 2014 11:39pm

PPP had done this, PPP had done that!!! All lies!!! Stop making a fool out of people of this nation...

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Iqbal bhai

Jul 12, 2014 12:58am

Here speaks the convicted and expelled PM !

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Moin Kamal

Jul 12, 2014 01:36am

Zardari Govt may be corrupt or not govern properly but it was not revengeful and based on hatred. Nawaz Govt is the worst democracy we ever had. He is worst a dictator surrounded by all the yes men and relative in his Govt as if he was to bring Nawaz dynasty.

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A. Mirza

Jul 12, 2014 01:45am

With Musharraf-this is what happens to an urdu-speaking leader/General. An honest man is being persecuted and tried while the satans reign supreme. Its hard to believe that Pakistanis have sympathies for thugs like Bugti, and Zardari and Nawaz.

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Ashok R.Prabhu

Jul 12, 2014 02:35am

Success has many fathers,but Failure is an orphan.

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mohammad shafique

Jul 12, 2014 02:42am

@MSAlvi maybe i am a simple person and not very sophistiated like most other peoples such as your kind self but national interest demands that everybody regardless should answer to the rule of law.

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Jul 12, 2014 04:29am

@AKNasser Don't forget to count Sharif Brothers too.Or you have deliberately?.

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khanm

Jul 14, 2014 10:32am

The truth of the matter is... we don't know truth... Honesty is the first chapter in the book of wisdom. Unfortunately they don't have the honesty not don't have wisdom either... In Pakistan Truth is very rarely available so let us economize it....

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