Nation is united to fight terrorism: Former PM Gilani

http://mediacellppp.wordpress.com/

Former prime minister and Pakistan People’s Party leader Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani said Sunday the incumbent government had taken the right decision to resume implementation of the capital punishment in view of the prevailing situation.

He visited the provincial metropolis to express grief over the Army Public School and College tragedy, share sympathies with the families of the martyred students and inquire after the health of the wounded children.

After visiting the Combined Military Hospital (CMH) and Lady Reading Hospital (LRH) and attending a number of functions, the former prime minister addressed media persons at the residence of former federal minister Arbab Mohammad Alamgir.

He said armies alone cannot fight a war. “The nation has to stand behind it. It is a matter of satisfaction that the entire nation is on the same page in the fight against terrorism,” he said.

Gilani opined that the tragic incident of December 16 was a grave shock for the entire nation. He said that convening All Parties Conference (APC) after the tragedy was a good decision and the nation had expectations from the moot.

He assured full support to the government for implementation of the decisions taken at the APC. “The government would find us behind it in case of any reaction and resistance as well,” he remarked.

The PPP leader said that terrorism had become the most serious threat for the country and the countrymen and it was the major impediment to the way of development and investment. He was of the opinion that such tragedies also created numerous problems for the overseas Pakistanis. He urged the government to come up with a concrete strategy to overcome such tragic incidents.

Yusuf Raza Gilani said that better ties with Afghanistan carry immense importance for Pakistan. “If ties with Kabul are not cordial, similar incidents would continue to happen,” he argued.

He added that relations with Afghanistan and India were not good during the PPP government as well. However, they had made efforts to improve ties with the neighbouring countries, he maintained.

The former prime minister demanded the government to announced civil awards for the martyrs of the Army Public School and College and extend financial support to the bereaved families.

He said that implementation of the law should be ensured. Unless and until law is implemented fully, the acts of terror won’t be controlled, he stressed. He said that it was the responsibility of the government to provide security to the witnesses.

Yusuf Raza Gilani pointed out that with the influx of the internally displaced persons, the problems of the people of Peshawar and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa had multiplied. “Therefore, the government should take effective measures for the return of the displaced tribespeople,” he added.