President, PM envisage Pak role for ME peace
By Our Special Correspondent

ISLAMABAD—President General Pervez Musharraf and Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz Saturday said there is no change in Pakistan’s position on Israel, but it wants to play a positive role for the resolution of the Palestinian dispute based on justice and equality.
Pakistan is today in a position to play this role in view of its growing stature in the international community and in the Ummah, the two leaders said during a briefing by the Minister for Foreign Affairs Khurshid Mahmood Kasuri about his talks with the Israeli Foreign Minister in Istanbul on Wednesday.
PML President and Parliamentary leader Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain was also present on the occasion.
President Musharraf said Pakistan will not recognize the Israel until the establishment of an independent Palestinian State.
Pakistan, he said, took leaders of the Islamic countries in the Middle East into confidence before the meeting. He said that the process of engaging with other faiths is in line with the teachings of Islam and the Sunnah of the Holy Prophet (Peace Be Upon Him). He said the Holy Prophet (Peace Be Upon Him) kept the channels of negotiations open with other religions.
“Islam is a religion of peace and it has lived in peace and harmony with other faiths for centuries and can do so in the future as well”.
The Prime Minister said that the meeting of Foreign Minister Khurshid Mahmood Kasuri with the Israeli Foreign Minister was in no way recognition of Israel and any decision in this regard would be taken in the supreme national interest after due consultations.
The Foreign Minister informed the meeting that his talks with his Israeli counterpart were held in a cordial atmosphere. He told the Israeli Foreign Minister that Pakistan’s gesture is a demonstration that the Islamic world will respond positively if Israel is ready to accept the imperatives of peace by respecting the fundamental rights of the Palestinians to live in freedom and peace in their own homeland.
He emphasized that Pakistan would like to see that the process started with the withdrawal from Gaza is continued in the West Bank.
Online adds: President Gen Pervez Musharraf and Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz have re-pledged that Pakistan would not recognize Israel until the establishment of a separate Palestinian homeland and the nation would be taken into confident before making nay decision on diplomatic ties with Israel.
Both the leaders expressed these views while attending a briefing at the Army House Rawalpindi by Foreign Minister Khurshid Kasuri on his meeting with his Israeli counterpart in Turkey on Thursday.
Foreign Minister had returned from his trip to Malta and Turkey on Saturday.
The Foreign Minister told the President and PM that the meeting was made possible by Turkish Prime Minister and during his meeting with the Israeli counterpart he had made it clear that Israel should work towards improving human rights situation in Palestine and withdraw from all Palestine occupied areas.
President and PM expressed their satisfaction at the Kasuri-Shalom meeting and emphasized that the reason behind the meeting was not to take a U turn on country’s policy on Israel and neither has our stance on Palestine been changed.
They reiterated that Pakistan would not recognize Israel until the establishment of Independent Palestinian State.
President said that the entire nation, federal cabinet and the parliament would be taken into confidence before any decision on Israel.
He said that Saudi Arabia and the PLA leader Mehmood Abbas was taken into confidence before the Kasuii-Shalom meeting.
Prime Minister said that Pakistan weaned to tell Israel through this meeting that if they grant Palestine a separate homeland than we can work towards its recognition.
PML President Ch Shujaat Hussain and other senior leaders were also present on the occasion.
President General Pervez Musharraf has directed for consulting all alliances for selection of Nazims stressing sincere and honest candidates should be brought forward.
He stated this in a high level meeting held under his chairmanship in the Army House Rawalpindi on Saturday in which host of issues included country’s over all political situation, rigging allegations by some government parliamentarians in the LG polls and selection of Nazims have been discussed in detail.
Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz, PML President Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain, Chief Minster Punjab Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi, Secretary National Security Council Tariq Aziz and other high officials attended the meeting.
President Musharraf directed the Party top slots to go along with its coalition partners regarding the selection of Nazims and chosen those people whose past were free of corruption charges and having good reputation with regard of public service.
He also directed the party president Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain to address the government members’ allegations regarding rigging in the election aimed at to keep the party united.
President pledged that government wanted to strengthen the local government system. “We have determined the powers aimed at to remove differences between the provinces and center”, he said.
In the meeting, it was decided that party would bring forward all those candidates from all the districts of the country who are free of corruption, sincere and honest candidates in order to serve the people in better way.
Sources in the meeting informed Online that several names considered for the Karachi Nazim slot but the decision delayed for the time being.
While Mian Amir Mahmood name chosen for Lahore city Nazim slot, Javed Ahlas for Rawalpindi, Akmal Cheema for Sialkot and for Chakwal, Sardar Ghulam Abbas’ name has been approved in the meeting for Nazim position.
They also delayed decision regarding selection of candidates for Karachi and Okara Nazim positions. “The Oakara Nazim would be selected after taking senior minister Rao Sikander Iqbal into confidence”, they decided.
Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz said that government lauded the local government system as it has great contribution in providing basic facilities of life to the people on grass roots level.
Chief Minister Punjab Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi also presented several names for Nazim slots in other districts but President directed that party should go with its coalition partners in every district regarding nomination of Nazims. In the meeting performance of the cabinets has also been come under discussion.