PESHAWAR, March 8: Prime Minister Mir Zafarullah Khan Jamali held out assurance that any decision on the Iraq issue would be representative of Pakistan’s interest.

Addressing a briefing and the provincial cabinet at the chief minister’s secretariat on Saturday, the prime minister said, “although we are concerned about the suffering of the Iraqi people in case of a war, we do not want lawlessness in our own country”.

He disclosed that his tribe had migrated from Iraq some 600 years ago, and said: “who could be more worried about the problems of the people of Iraq than I?”

The PM’s press secretary, while briefing newsmen after the meeting, said that the PM dwelt at length on the issue of the LFO and said, all political parties had accepted the amendment when they accepted an increase in the reserved seats for woman’s seats both in parliament and provincial assemblies and the lowering of the voter age as well.

About the process of devolution of power, the prime minister said, “we want continuity of the process” and asked the provincial governments and the elected representatives of the local governments to run their affairs with mutual understanding.

He disclosed that he would hold a meeting of 134 Nazimeen from all over the country next week in Islamabad.

He asked the people to maintain peace and harmony during Muharram.

Mr Jamali, lauding the role of the people of the NWFP in the creation of Pakistan said, had they not voted in favour of Pakistan, Pakistan’s creation would not have been so easy.

The NWFP Governor Lt-Gen Syed Iftikhar Hussain Shah and Chief Minister Akram Khan Durrani welcomed the prime minister’s visit and said, “the people of the NWFP were happy on your election as prime minister.”

Senior Minister Sirajul Haq held out assurance of complete cooperation with the federal government.

The prime minister made a number of announcements which included provision of Sui gas to southern districts of Kohat, Bannu, Tank and D.I. Khan in phases. This he said would cost Rs1,112 million.

He also announced the immediate release of Rs2 billion to the NWFP out of the outstanding share in the net profit from power generation.

He directed that a passport office be set up at Bannu.

He said 2003 had been declared a year of Maadar-i-Millat, who fought bravely along with her brother for the creation of Pakistan.

Top leadership of the MMA including Qazi Hussain Ahmad, Maulana Fazlur Rehman and Maulana Samiul Haq called on the PM at the Chief Minister’s House.—APP