President Mamnoon Hussain has summoned the National Assembly session today (Tuesday) to discuss and formulate a response to US President Donald Trump's allegations that militants enjoy a 'safe haven' inside Pakistan.
According to sources, the Senate is preparing draft policy guidelines subsequent to the US President Donald Trump's announcement of the strategy for South Asia and Afghanistan on 21 August. The Senate would approve the recommendations for policy guidelines after discussions which would then be presented in the National Assembly for discussion. The members of the National Assembly would provide their input to shape and refine the policy.
The Senate Committee of the Whole will discuss Donald Trump's policy for two days (28 August Monday and 29 August Tuesday) while a sub-committee comprising Senators Mushahid Hussain Sayed, Sherry Rehman and others will prepare recommendations, which would be sent to the government for consideration after being adopted by the Upper House.
The two main opposition parties - Pakistan People's Party (PPP) and the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) - have submitted separate adjournment motions to the National Assembly secretariat to summon a special session of the house to give a befitting response to the US administration. "The US President has not only undermined Pakistan's numerous contributions and sacrifices in the war against terror, but has also threatened the country of dire consequences in case of failure to adhere to this dictation," the PPP's adjournment motion said.
The PTI motion maintains that "the speech of the US President Donald Trump on August 20, in which he has accused Pakistan of harbouring terrorists and asked Pakistan to 'do more' totally (ignores) that no country in the world has done more than Pakistan to counter the menace of terrorism."
PPP Spokesperson Senator Farhatullah Babar said that US President Trump was wrong in accusing Pakistan and urged the country to "look inward to ascertain whether the time has not come for abandoning the failed policy of selective treatment of the militant groups."
Babar also supported boosting relations with Russia, China and Iran, instead of relying on the US. Dr Arif Alvi of PTI, while talking to Business Recorder, said, "We fought two wars in Afghanistan at the behest of the US, and paid a heavy human and economic cost both times. We sacrificed 70,000 lives in US war on terror and our economy suffered over $100 billion in loss."
Alvi emphasized that Parliament must provide policy guidelines to the government on strategic relations with the US administration. The Speaker National Assembly today (Tuesday) may adjourn the session of the house after offering prayers for the demise of sitting MNA Gulzar .Khan of PTI. Gulzar Khan passed away on Monday. He was suffering heart ailment.
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