ISLAMABAD, Sept 2: Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani reiterated on Tuesday the People’s Party commitment to do away with the 17th Amendment, saying that national institutions would be made supreme.

In his first appearance in the Senate, the prime minister assured the house that the new president would abide by constitutional requirements and would not hesitate to address the joint session of parliament.

Mr Gilani urged the Taliban and other militant groups to shun militancy and return to the mainstream. He promised ‘complete amnesty’ for those who laid down their arms.

He said he considered the Taliban as ‘brothers’ and urged them to lay down their arms and work for development of the country.

The prime minister said he would arrange an in-camera briefing for lawmakers by the army chief so that they could understand the gravity of the situation.

He said the PPP government was sincere in its commitment to restoring the pre-Nov 3 judiciary, but it would be done in keeping with the Constitution.

Mr Gilani said that reinstatement of the judges was a part of the PPP manifesto and Benazir Bhutto also wanted to see the judges back in their positions.

He said the country was facing two major challenges -- law and order and economic downslide.

He regretted the kidnapping of Chinese engineers, saying that such an act had been committed despite Pakistan having most cordial relations with China.

Mr Gilani said the unutilised quota of 6,700 jobs for Balochistan would be filled under a special arrangement.

He said he would convene a conference of Ulema to end Shia-Sunni violence in Parachinar. He accused foreign elements of fuelling the sectarian strife.

Earlier, senators in their speeches called for steps for a peaceful settlement of tribal feuds, political stability and change in foreign policy.

Calling the NRO a ‘shameful document’, Prof Khurshid Ahmed of Jamaat-i-Islami said that those exonerated under the ordinance needed to clear themselves from courts of law.

Ishaq Dar of the PML-Nawaz said the 17th Amendment should be repealed as early as possible. He urged the prime minister to announce reinstatement of all deposed judges on the floor of the house as he had done in March by ordering their release.

“If eight judges of the Sindh High Court could be restored by a notification why can’t it be done with all the deposed judges?” Mr Dar wondered.

Maulana Gul Naseeb of the JUI-F urged the government to convene a multi-party conference to discuss the unrest in the NWFP and suggest measures to overcome it.

Earlier, two separate adjournment motions moved by Senators Maulana Gul Naseeb, Professor Khurshid, Professor Ibrahim, Dr Kausar Firdaus and others were clubbed by the chair to discuss the situation in Bajaur, Swat and other areas of the NWFP.

The movers said that due to the military operation in tribal areas, hundreds of thousands of people had been displaced and a large number of them were forced to live in relief camps.

“The government must concentrate on these areas and ensure its writ prevails,” Mr Naseeb said.

He said the foreign policy should be discussed in parliament.