ISLAMABAD, April 8: Prime Minister Mir Zafarullah Khan Jamali said here on Tuesday the government position on the Legal Framework Order “is very clear, all parliamentarians are aware of it, the Supreme Court has given a decision and the elections were held under it.”

He said all subsequent steps by the government were also taken under the LFO.

However, he said: “If the opposition wants to pack the assembly then it is a different matter.”

The prime minister was talking to newsmen at Balochistan House after meeting people from different walks of life who were there to apprise him of the problems they were encountering.

Referring to the Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal’s million men marches in support of Iraq, Mr Jamali said the MMA leadership had extended full support to military rule for 27 years.

“However, it is very surprising that they speak against the ‘uniformed military leader’ who in the past three years has moved away from military rule to civilian rule, by holding local bodies polls and general elections.”

To a question about holding of an open debate on the issue, he said: “Chaudhry Shujaat is holding discussions with the MMA leadership and there is nothing hidden about it. Whatever is discussed is reported and nothing is being done behind the scenes.”

INDIAN THREATS: Responding to questions regarding spate of statements by the Indian leadership threatening a pre-emptive strike against Pakistan, he said the people and armed forces of Pakistan were fully capable of defending the country, and “no one should have any doubt about it.”

When asked about the increased frequency of firing incidents from across the Line of Control and killing of several civilians in the past few days, he said: “Whenever India gets a chance it resorts to such tactics.” It might be because the world’s attention was focused on Iraq, he added.

The prime minister further said: “Whenever there is a visit of some foreign dignitary to Pakistan, incidents occur in which efforts are made to bring a bad name to Pakistan.”

He sighted a number of visits, including that of Ms Christina Rocca of the United States to Pakistan, when there were incidents of killings in Indian occupied Kashmir.

He said: “Pakistan has nothing to do with any such occurrence in India, nor it has any need to do so.”

Referring to a question about any reshuffle in the federal cabinet, he said it would be done, if required.

When asked about consultations of the president with the parliamentarians, he said, it was part of a process to take the representatives of the people into confidence on national issues.

Earlier, the prime minister met the people, including women and elderly, who had arrived from different parts of the country and issued on-the-spot orders for the redressal of their problems.—APP