ISLAMABAD, Feb 16: Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani said on Monday that the accord on enforcing Nizam-i-Adl Regulation in Malakand was a step in the right direction which would pave way for restoration of peace in Swat. After that, he said, troops would be pulled out of the valley.

He said the government was following a policy of dialogue, development and deterrence and this had been explained to US officials.

Talking to reporters after inaugurating a labour conference, the prime minister said his government was holding dialogue because it believed that the use of force was not the only way to resolve issues.

He said the army did not go to any area on its own to help the civil administration. It was deployed at the request of the provincial government. There was also the need for an exit policy, he added.

“The provincial government is talking to jirgas, and if successful, it will be beneficial for the country,” he said.

When asked about US opposition to such peace deals reached in the past, Mr Gilani said he had conveyed to former President George Bush, Congressmen and US officials who visited Pakistan that military option was not the only way to combat militancy.

About drone attacks in tribal areas, the prime minister said he had already stated that the attacks were counter-productive and of no help to efforts for peace in troubled areas. Pakistan always condemned such attacks and would continue to do so, he added.

Replying to a question about reports that US drones were taking off from within the country, he said such reports had already been contradicted.

Asked about his government’s position on the controversial 17th amendment, the prime minister said he and President Zardari had clearly stated that the government would support a consensus bill to repeal it.

Responding to a question about deposed Chief Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry, he said it was for parliament to decide about his future.

The prime minister said it was lawyers’ right to hold a long march and, therefore, the government would create no hindrance if they remained peaceful.

Earlier addressing the labour conference, the prime minister said that power shortage was the biggest challenge for the government, but there was no need to get frustrated by challenges. He said that the targets set by the IMF had been achieved. He stressed the need for building the capacity of law-enforcement agencies and to focus on their needs to enable them to do their job after peace returned.