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‘Govt will review stance if Swat people reject deal’

* President says US, Pakistan should work together to achieve more
* Says he and Nawaz in agreement on major national issues

LAHORE: The government will review its stance on the peace deal and Nizam-e-Adl Regulation in Swat if the people of the valley think it did not bring peace, President Asif Ali Zardari said in an interview with the state-run Pakistan Television on Sunday.

Zardari said the agreement was made between the provincial government and the local clerics in Swat, and that they should be given time to achieve peace.

“The situation deteriorates, but it takes time to correct the situation. They should be given time,” he said.

The president admitted there was criticism of the deal.

“There are negative effects of the situation. But the positive effect is that now there is a growing sense of realisation among the people that something will have to be done,” he said.

Asked if the Nizam-e-Adl Regulation was conditional to peace in Swat, he said, any decision would have to be made by parliament.

“When the people of Swat feel there is no peace even after the regulation, then the provincial government, assembly and the parliament can give their opinion on this issue,” he said.

Zardari has said Pakistan needed to hold more talks with those who demand Islamabad should ‘do more’ in the war on terror.

“It is time to bring to their attention that let us get together and strengthen each other to able to achieve more,” he said. “Do more is not the answer. Achievement is the answer. Do more is just a statement.”

Zardari said during his forthcoming visit to the United States he will talk to the US leadership on this issue. “Let us get together and talk about achieving more.”

The president said his dialogue with the US leadership would focus on what progress the US had made in Afghanistan during the last eight years.

Zardari said he would tell the US leadership that Pakistan has been with the US during the last eight years, supported them and still wanted to be with them. “See your weaknesses as well as ours,” he said.

He said he and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz chief Nawaz Sharif still agreed on all national issues and “it is by mere chance that there have been no meetings recently”.

“Difference of opinion is the beauty of democracy,” Zardari said.

He said resolution of Balochistan’s problems was a priority for his government, adding that provincial autonomy was part of the Pakistan People’s Party manifesto.

He said Pakistan wanted “trade, not aid” from the world. He said Islamabad would try to resume talks with New Delhi after the Indian polls. app/daily times monitor

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