Islamabad: Pakistan Information Minister Dr Firdaus Ashiq Awan has said that Pakistan wants ties based on equality basis and wants trade not aid.
Reading the 13-point unanimous declaration approved by APC – all parties conference – on late Thursday, Awan said unity of a national leadership is a good omen. She said APC resolution passed unanimously by national leadership must be implemented.
The joint declaration of APC was formed by Pakistan People’s Party Senator Babar Awan, Awami National Party President Asfand Yar Wali, Chaudhary Nisar Ali Khan of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz and Chairman Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf Imran Khan.
She said ISI head Director General ISI, Ahmed Shuja Pasha briefed the APC on national security and regional situation. The DG ISI also answered the questions raised by APC participants, she added.
She said defence, security and solidarity of the country were the sacred duty of Pakistani forces. She said Pakistani nation would not accept incursion on its soil at any cost.
She said a parliamentary committee would be formed to discuss Thursday’s APC. Meeting of the committee would be held once in a month.
Peace opportunities would be created, she said, added that, Pak-Afghan ties would be enhanced on people-to-people and government level.
She said APC acknowledges the sacrifices of FATA – Federally Administrated Tribal Areas – and Khyber Pakhtoonkhawa people. World should also acknowledge Pakistan’s sacrifices in the war on terror.
The most interesting thing of the joint declaration of APC was, there was not a single word mentioning US that how matter related to US would be dealt with. Although, the main purpose of calling the APC was to devise a strategy against US allegation leveled on Pakistani intelligence agency ISI – Inter Service Intelligence.
The full text of the resolution can be found below:
Resolution
Of the conference of the leaders of all the political parties
Islamabad, September 29, 2011
On the invitation of Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani, the leaders of Pakistan’s political parties met in Islamabad on September 29, 2011 to consider issues relating to national security
1. The conference was briefed by Foreign Minister Ms. Hina Rabbani Khar and Director General ISI, Lt. Gen Ahmed Shuja Pasha on the security environment of the country and the regional situation.
2. After in-depth deliberations, leaders of all political parties unanimously resolved, as follows.
i. As a peace-loving country,Pakistandesires to establish and maintain friendly and cordial relations with all countries of the world on the basis of sovereign equality, mutual interest and respect.
ii. All Parties Conference recognized that there has to be a new direction and policy with a focus on peace and reconciliation. “Give peace a chance” must be the guiding central principle henceforth.
iii.Pakistanmust initiate dialogue with a view to negotiate peace with our own people in the tribal areas and a proper mechanism for this be put in place.
iv. We need to further enhance our brotherly bilateral relations withAfghanistanat three levels on priority basis: government to government, institution to institution and people to people.
v. The APC recognized the sacrifices of the people and the Security Forces of Pakistan, especially the people of Khyber Pukhtunkhwa and tribal areas. The international community needs to recognize these tremendous sacrifices as well as the colossal magnitude of destruction inPakistan.
vi.Pakistancan enhance its self-reliance comprehensively. Trade, not aid, should clearly be the way forward. We should also focus on internal economic and tax reforms as well as resource mobilization and the curbing of corruption.
vii. Defence ofPakistan’s sovereignty and its territorial integrity is a sacred duty which shall never be compromised.
viii. National interests are supreme and shall guide Pakistan’s policy and response to all challenges at all times.
ix.Pakistanshall continue to endeavor to promote stability and peace at the regional and global planes, in accordance with the principles of the Charter of the United Nations and international law.
x. All earlier unanimous resolutions of the Parliament, the recommendation of the Joint Parliamentary Committee on National Security must be implemented.
xi. APC rejected the recent assertions and baseless allegations made againstPakistan. Such assertions are without substance and derogatory to a partnership approach.
xii. The Pakistani nation affirms its full solidarity and support for the armed forces ofPakistanin defeating any threat to national security.
xiii. A Parliamentary Committee be formed to oversee the implementation of earlier resolutions as well as this Resolution and progress on the same be made public on monthly basis.
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