News
Wednesday, December 03, 2008
Political leaders ‘united against threats to security’
* APC condemns Mumbai attacks g Rejects ‘unsubstantiated’ allegations
* Offers support to govt, armed forcesBy Irfan Ghauri
ISLAMABAD: Top political leaders of Pakistan strongly condemned last week’s terrorist attacks in Mumbai in a meeting on Tuesday, but said they were united and stood behind the government and the armed forces in defending national security interests. In an all-parties conference (APC) at the Prime Minister’s House to discuss rising tensions between India and Pakistan after the attacks that India blames on elements based in Pakistan, the political leaders “took a strong exception” to India’s “unsubstantiated allegations made in haste”, according to a seven-point statement issued after the meeting. The leaders, from all major political parties of Pakistan in and outside parliament, “expressed Pakistan’s desire to pursue its constructive engagement with India in a comprehensive manner with a view to building confidence and mutual trust for establishing friendly and good-neighbourly relations with India on the basis of settlement of all outstanding disputes”. Pakistani people “share the grief of the people of India and extend their sympathy to the families of the victims”, they said, underscoring “Pakistan’s abhorrence to any act of violence perpetrated against innocent persons”. They also expressed a “steadfast resolve of the Pakistani nation to defend its honour and dignity as well as Pakistan’s sovereignty, political independence and territorial integrity”. Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani lauded the political leaders for assuring the government of unequivocal support.
Courtesy DailyTimes