Pak not bound to accept 'strings' attached with Kerry Lugar Bill: Gilani India News and Travel Times Provides India-centric and other News and Features

Pakistan Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani has said that the government is not bound to accept the terms and conditions attached with the Kerry Lugar Bill and the final decision in this regard would be taken by Parliament. Addressing the National Assembly, Gilani said he has already taken President Asif Ali Zardari and the Chief of the Army Staff General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani into confidence over the issue. "We have not signed any contract, it is not binding on us, it is for parliament to take a decision," Gilani said while responding to a point of query raised by opposition leader Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan. Gilani brushed aside all apprehensions regarding the US aims of establishing its control over Pakistan's nuclear establishments, saying his government would never allow any foreign country to take over its nuclear programs. "Our party initiated the nuclear programme and we will defend it," The Daily Times quoted Gilani, as saying. Meanwhile, President Barrack Obama has delayed signing the Kerry-Lugar Bill due to wide scale criticism the bill has received in Pakistan . However, the US embassy in Islamabad said there has been no delay in signing of the bill and that President Barack Obama would sign the aid document as per the schedule.