Political and religious parties reject Kerry-Lugar bill

An All Parties Conference of small religious and political parties have rejected the US Kerry Lugar bill and described it as a blatant interference in Pakistan's internal affairs here on Sunday. The conference organised by Tehreek-e-Istiqlal was attended by heads/representatives of Jamaat-i-Islami, Khatsaar Tehrik, Pakistan Siraiki National Party, Mutahidda Jamiat-e-Ahle Hadis, JUI (S) JUI and JUP (Engineer Salimullah).
In a joint statement, read out by TI President Rehmat Khan Wardag, the APC said that Kerry Lugar bill is an attack on independence and integrity of Pakistan but the patriotic political parties and the people will not allow anyone to mortgage the country for personal gains.
The APC called upon the government and the Parliament to reject the bill through a unanimous resolution and make clear to the United States that Pakistani nation would never compromise on its independence for any amount of aid.
The conference also expressed concern over the alleged activities of private US security agencies in Pakistan and demanded of the government to take the Parliament and the nation into confidence about designs of these agencies in Pakistan.
The conference further asked the government to take immediate and effective steps to end deprivation of people of Balochistan so that Israeli, Indian and American conspiracies could be foiled and peace and security is brought back in the province.
The conference warned that if the democratically elected government failed to provide genuine relief to the common man with regard to price hike of essential goods and electricity load shedding, then the politicians will lose confidence of the nation.
The conference also called upon the government to curtail its non-development expenses, adopt the policies of self-reliance instead of taking loans from the International Monetary Fund or aid from the United States and build dams to conserve the precious irrigation water. The conference termed the dissolution of the local bodies as an undemocratic step and suggested that the government should restore it with necessary reforms so that these elected institutions could serve people in a better manner.
The conference decided to hold similar meetings in other provinces to mobilise the public opinion against the Kerry Lugar bill and failure of the government to protect the national interest.