Gilani said the opposition should not believe in speculations and should trust the government. -APP Photo

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani on Wednesday categorically stated that the country's intelligence agencies were subservient to the government and act under government's instructions and guidance.

Speaking in the National Assembly, the prime minister said the country's institutions should not be looked at with suspicion, adding, whatever the intelligence agencies including ISI do, it is on the government's instructions and under government's guidance.

Gilani said he had stated on the floor of the house that Pakistan and the United States have multi-dimensional strategic relations in various fields including defence and economic cooperation as well as intelligence sharing for the last 60 years.

Pakistan-US relations are based on mutual interest and mutual respect, he maintained.

The prime minister reiterated that the intelligence sharing between Pakistan and the United States has been in past, going on at present and would continue in future as well.

Referring to the bilateral foreign visits of senior government officials, the prime minister said the foreign secretary recently visited the United States and now the defence secretary is proceeding to US for the Defence Consultation Group meeting.

Gilani said the Defence Secretary has briefed him on his visit to the United States during which he would discuss defence cooperation, matters of Coalition Support Fund as well as capacity building of Pakistani forces in the fight against militancy.

The prime minister also referred to the assertions made in the Wall Street Journal about his recent visit to Afghanistan, accompanied by the Chief of Army Staff and DG ISI, and said foreign office would issue a statement in this respect.

Gilani said the opposition should not believe in speculations and should trust the government.

The prime minister said the government respects the courts, adding, after the Supreme Court verdict on the issue of extension in the service of additional judges of Lahore and Sindh Courts, the president on his advice has notified the extension.