Foreigners have been given ultimatum to leave N. Waziristan: Shaukat Aziz

CNews ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz informed on Monday tribal people of North Waziristan have given ultimatum to the foreigners to leave the area. He was talking to the executive committee of the All Pakistan Newspapers Society (APNS), led by Hameed A Haroon.He said the government wishes to resolve the North Waziristan issue through dialogue. He informed that the foreigners have been given ultimatum to leave the area. The Prime Minister said that the proposed security draft during the campaign for the general elections has been sent to the political parties for their views. “The interior ministry’s security draft has been sent to the political parties to get their comments after which it will be published,” Shaukat Aziz added. This plan, he said, will ensure that life and security of the rally participants is safe. The Prime Minister made it clear that all the ruling parties will be bound, including the ruling coalition, by the finalised plan. Replying to a question about the constituency from where he plans to contest elections, Aziz said he has “solid offers” from eight constituencies from the four provinces. “You will have to wait from where I contest. I will decide within the next few days,” he said when asked to name a particular constituency. Shaukat Aziz said on the request of the NWFP government, Frontier Constabulary has been sent to Swat. Talking about suggestions from various quarters and political parties to suspend the local bodies during the general elections, Aziz said he did not agree with the proposal. The local government elections are held on non-party basis and it would be unfair with the electorate to suspend them during the forthcoming elections. “I don’t see any logic into this...why the citizens of a district should suffer. One could have thought about it if the local bodies representatives were appointed.” He categorically stated that there was no pressure on the government viz-a-vis the return of former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto to Pakistan as the country was sovereign and takes its decisions independently. He said on the advice of some other country, the government never takes a step which is against the interests of Pakistan. “Our sovereignty is strong and we have the strength to take our decisions independently.” “As a nation and a country, we should have confidence on ourselves. We have never sacrificed our independence, integrity and security at the advice of some one,” he added. Replying to a question that why MQM chief Altaf Hussain was not returning to Pakistan, Aziz said it is every person’s individual decision depending upon the situation. He regretted the loss of lives during October 18 Benazir’s rally in Karachi and said the government provided her all possible security. He assured that the government will be able to catch the culprits as it has been able to nab all those responsible for such earlier attacks in Karachi. About the plans to hold talks with PML (N), he said these can be held as the government believes in engagement with all the political parties. “PML (N) is a major political party having their own vote bank. If our engagement is in the larger national interest then the talks can be held with them,” he added. The government, he added, believes that engagement with the political parties will improve the political atmosphere in the country. To a question Shaukat Aziz was of the view that the major political movements in the country did not succeed as they should have, due to lack of political vision by their leadership. “They did not have a clear programme to take it before the masses and that is why Pakistan nearly became a failed state,” he added. The people, he said, were politically very conscious and will use their vote judiciously during the next elections. The ruling coalition has not yet decided about their next prime minister, Aziz said and added, during the general elections the coalition may not necessarily contest under one symbol. “Every party has its own identity but they work towards greater national cause,” he said.