LAHORE, March 2: Prime Minister Mir Zafarullah Khan Jamali said here on Sunday that the government would formulate its policy on the Iraq crisis in consultation with parliament and the nation.

Information Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmad assured that Pakistan would not give its bases nor allow the use of its airspace for attack on Iraq. He said the government would go by a decision to be taken by the UN Security Council, where countries like China, France, Germany and Russia were expected to play a key role.

The two leaders were among speakers at a ceremony at Alhamra, organized to commemorate the services of the founder of a local Urdu daily.

In his 20-minute extempore and candid speech, the prime minister said country’s interests would be safeguarded at all costs and the nation should rest assured.

He said some parties felt concerned about US interests while others were sympathetic to Iraq. But, he said, as the chief executive of the country he would devote his energies on ensuring as to what Pakistan should do to protect its own interests in the case of a conflict.

Rejecting with contempt controversy on whether power rested with the president or the prime minister, Jamali said the real power lay with Allah and governments exercised it as His viceroy.

He was critical of opposition parties which had first contested the elections under the Legal Framework Order but were now dubbing the package of constitutional amendments as invalid.

He said it was the LFO which had increased the number of assembly seats, reduced the voter age and protected the election of the prime minister. Those who had contested the premier’s election but had lost were left with little justification to oppose the LFO, he argued.

Making an obvious reference to utterances by opposition parties that he was brought to power by Gen Pervez Musharraf, the prime minister said nobody should forget that in the past the army had installed a political leader as Chief Martial Law Administrator, which was unprecedented in history.

Those sitting in glass houses should not throw stones at others, he advised his critics.

About pledges by various parties that they would support him in parliament, Jamali said those working under instructions from their leaders abroad were in no position to strengthen his hands. He said he depended on support from Allah.

Jamali said power was always temporary and he would rule honourably as long as he was at the helm.

Regarding complaints of price hike, the prime minister said the Lahorites spending billions on kite-flying every year should give some funds to the government to enable it to help the poor.

Jamali said he had asked the Punjab chief minister to revive the annual horse and cattle show which provided the people with an opportunity for recreation.

Information Minister Sheikh Rashid held out an assurance that the Jamali government would never compromise on its nuclear technology.

Pakistan, he said, was the only potent power in the Islamic world and what was known as Islamic Ummat was not visible anywhere. The minister said Pakistan would be the only country to fight a war for Islam and no other country was expected to play any role despite resourcefulness.

Referring to the Iraq crisis, the minister said Pakistan would not provide its shoulder for use to the United States or Iraq. In the prevailing situation, he said, pragmatism demanded that country’s safety should be ensured.

Sheikh Rashid said if the US was bent upon invading Iraq, the politics of the entire region would change and since the US had already completed deployment of its forces, the current month was very crucial for the global situation.

About the controversy on powers of the president and the prime minister, the information minister said the government would prove that the authority rested with Mr Jamali.

He said parties assuring the government of its support should match their word with deeds in parliament.