Federal Minister for Information Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan said Monday that Prime Minister Syed Yusaf Raza Gilani had called the All Parties Conference (APC) to defend the country's sovereignty and territorial integrity.

Talking in a State Television programme, she said that in the prevailing situation the patriotic politicians should prefer country's interests and avoid point scoring.

It is the duty of every political party and leader to come forward for country's defence, she said.

She said that the government would act upon the roadmap and strategy hammered out by all the political forces to deal with the situation.

Firdous said that the Prime Minister in the past had also been taking on board the political leaders upon important national issues. She said that our ally was levelling allegations against our institutions.

She said political leadership should allay the apprehensions of the people. It should be made clear that the leadership and the nation fully stand behind the institutions of the country.