Political leadership to decide on US/Nato ties: PM

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani on Thursday said Parliament will decide the matter of re-engagement with the United States, NATO and ISAF, in a respectful manner, as the whole world was waiting for this decision.

He said this parliamentary process and the recommendations of the parliamentary committee were being appreciated and viewed with great respect by the whole world.

The Prime Minister expressed these views while chairing an important meeting of the Parliamentary leaders here at the PM House, to evolve a consensus regarding resolution of the Parliament on policy recommendations for future course with US and NATO.

The meeting was attended by Speaker National Assembly Dr Fehmida Mirza, Leader of the Opposition in NA Ch. Nisar Ali Khan, Leader of Opposition in Senate Ishaq Dar, PML-Q Chief Ch. Shujaat Hussain, Mushahid Hussain Syed, JUI Chief Maulana Fazal ur Rehman, Deputy Parliamentary Leader of MQM in NA Syed Haidar Abbas Rizvi, ANP leader Afrasiab Khattak, Kalsoom Parveen, FATA Parliamentary Leader in NA Haji Munir Khan Orakzai, Senator Muzaffar Shah, Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar, Interior Minister Rehman Malik, Minister

for Religious Affairs Syed Khursheed Shah, Senator Mian Raza Rabbani.

Chief of the Army Staff Gen. Ashfaq Parvez Kayani, Chief of the Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal Tahir Rafique Butt, DG ISI, Lt. Gen. Zaheer ul Islam, Pakistan's Ambassador in US Ms Sherry Rehman also attended the meeting.

The Prime Minister appreciated the hard-work of Parliamentary Committee on National Security for finalizing the recommendations, adding, the Parliamentary Committee has given its input, which is now property of the House, which has to take a decision.

"It is not a matter of US alone, but 148 countries," Gilani said and added the decision should be taken with consensus.

"The role of parliamentary leaders is very important, as your vision will decide the future line of action," he added. (APP)