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Baitullah assassinated Benazir Bhutto: PM Gilani |
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LONDON: Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani said on Wednesday that former Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan chief Baitullah Mehsud had assassinated Benazir Bhutto.
Addressing the Pakistan community here, the prime minister said that Baitullah Mehsud had finally met his fate.
Gilani also hinted at a reforms package for the Federally Administrated Tribal Areas (Fata) on the pattern of Gilgit-Baltistan after the completion of the military operation there.
“We have captured the strongholds of the terrorists and extremists in Waziristan due to which they are on the run,” he said. He said the military operation was successful and it would be completed soon.
The prime minister said the entire nation stood behind the government in its move to eradicate militancy. He said the policy of political reconciliation would continue so that democratic institutions are strengthened.
He said peace and stability in the region could not materialise unless the lingering dispute of Kashmir is resolved peacefully through negotiations. He said Pakistan desires peaceful relations with India and stressed the need for resumption of the stalled composite dialogue process. “For the elimination of terrorism, regional cooperation is vital,” he added.
The prime minister appreciated the expatriate Pakistani community for their generous donations to the PM’s Fund for Swat and Malakand.
He, however, urged them to evolve a collective policy rather than individual by adopting a village in Swat, Malakand and Fata and then meeting their basic needs.
He said the 1973 Constitution will be restored in its original form and democracy will be further strengthened.
The prime minister apprised the Pakistani community of the progress made by the country in different areas and said the government has successfully averted the economic crisis through prudent policies. He said foreign exchange reserves now stand at $14.7 billion.
Gilani said the world realised Pakistan’s contribution to the war against terrorism and hoped that the pledges made by Friends of Democratic Pakistan worth US$5.24 billion would be fulfilled soon.
He said political reconciliation was the hallmark of the government and for the first time the two addresses of the president to the parliament were held without any disturbance.
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