Political parties welcome APC; COAS to brief Parliamentarians about Swat operation
ISLAMABAD: The Federal Government has convened All Parties Conference on May 18th to take all political parties into confidence over the ongoing military operation in Malakand Division and current situation in Balochistan. Speaking at a point of order during National Assembly session on Thursday, Federal Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Dr. Babar Awan said Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani has called the APC on May 18th at Prime Minister House to take all political parties into confidence over the military operation.
Those Parties who don’t have representation in the Parliament house would also be invited in the APC, he said, adding that, the APC has been convened with consultation of Political leaders of different parties.
He said Chief of Army Staff General Ashfaq Pervez Kayani in accordance with the announcement of Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani would brief the Parliamentarians on the operational sides of Swat military offensive on Friday (today) during in camera session of lower house. The joint meeting of PPP Central Executive Council and Federal council would be held on Saturday under the chairmanship of Prime Minister.
Meanwhile All political parties have lauded the Prime Minister decision to call All Parties Conference (APC) on May 18. In this connection, Senator Pervez Rashid of PML-N while talking to a private TV channel, said the decision was in precise time and the government needs to see in future instead of dealing the matters of the past. He said the country is passing through a crucial phase of its history and unrest going in Northern areas is affecting the whole country.
Pervez Rashid said it was the need of the hour to call APC to reach on a final conclusion about the country law and order situation. Responding to question about delay in calling APC, he said, “We should forget the past to concentrate on future and all parties should join hands to resolve the country’s problems”.
Talking to TV channel, ANP leader Senator Zahid Khan said it is a welcoming step to call APC. He said the whole nation should suppress rebel actions by supporting Pakistan army. “It was the long standing demand of Awami National Party from all political parties to unite against the militants”, he said.
Zahid Khan said they had signed Swat peace deal after consulting with political parties. He said when they learnt that Taliban were following another agenda instead of Nizam-e-Adl then the provincial government called Pak-army to handle the situation. “The military should be needed to clean the area completely of the militants because such operation could not be done repeatedly”, he said.
He further said time has come for all political parties to unite while keeping aside all the internal hostilities for the sake of country’s integrity. Meanwhile, leader of MQM, Haider Abbas Rizvi also appreciated the move of Prime Minister Gilani to call APC and said that Prime Minister had fulfilled the demand for All Parties Conference which will play a role in breakthrough of sketching a future strategy. He said the government needs to take solid steps for a durable peace in the country.
Input from Agencies
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