SUKKUR, Jan 11: Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani has ruled out handing over any person to any country in connection with the Mumbai carnage.

He said that Pakistan was carrying out is own investigation and if any Pakistani was found involved, the government would take action against him in accordance with law.

The prime minister was addressing a public gathering after inaugurating a cadet college in Sangi.

“We will not be intimidated by any foreign pressure since our hands are clean. We have our own laws and we will not allow our land to be used for terrorist activities,” Mr Gilani said.

He accused the Indian government of issuing irresponsible statements which, he said, were fanning tension.

He said Pakistan had always behaved with utmost responsibility and the entire world appreciated it, especially its role in the war on terror.

He said the government, the armed forces and people were united and nobody could dare to “cast an evil eye upon the country”.

He said Pakistan was a peace-loving country and “we are against war but if a war is imposed on us, our armed forces are fully capable of defending the country”.

Referring to the economic situation, the prime minister said the government was trying to steer the country out of crisis. He also said the system faced no threat and the government would complete its term.

Mr Gilani said that late Benazir Bhutto had struggled all her life for restoration of genuine democracy and for the rule of law and the government was following in her footsteps.

He said that education and health were priority sectors and the government had taken a number of steps to eradicate poverty and unemployment.

He referred to the Benazir Bhuto income-support programme for women and described it as an honest effort to fulfil the PPP’s manifesto as well as Mr Bhutto’s vision.

Earlier, Sindh Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah said that allocation for health in the budget had been increased by 200 per cent and education budget had gone up by 80 per cent. He said Sindh had been deliberately ignored in allocation for health and education over the past 13 years because of which the province lagged behind the NWFP and Punjab in these sectors.

Senior Education Minister Pir Mazharul Haq said that the PPP government had released funds for the Sangi cadet college in 1995, but the project was shelved with the end of the PPP government.