US presidential candidates' threats: government honours opposition demand to hold debate

The government on Friday honoured an opposition demand to hold a debate on threatening statements by the United States officials in what appeared to be a conscious attempt to send a message to Washington that Pakistan will not accept any aggression.
The motion seeking debate on country's foreign policy in wake of recent US threatening statements was drafted in harsh words, which would be followed by unanimous resolution from the lower house in next couple of days. Parliamentary Affairs Minister Sher Afgan Niazi moved the motion, saying the house demands a debate on country's foreign policy as well as 'dirty' statements made by some US presidential candidates. The motion not only expressed concerns over US officials threats to attack Pakistani tribal areas but it also showed resentment on US-India civilian nuclear technology deal.
Furthermore, the house would debate the recent legislation made by US Congress about imposing conditions on its financial aid to Pakistan. Though, the government had agreed to push through the lower house a joint resolution of condemnation but it announced to hold a thorough discussion firstly to be opened on Monday evening.
Mahmood Khan Achakzai of Pakhtunkhwa Mili Awami Party suggested the government to call a joint sitting of the parliament for a threadbare discussion on the serious issue but he did not receive any encouraging response. Achakzai was of the view that Pakistan should end infiltration into Afghanistan that was not in the best interests of Islamabad. The other opposition members, while condemning the statements of US presidential candidates, censured the government for its cold response. They urged the government to part its ways from the so-called war on terrorism.
Shaukat Aziz government survived humiliation when an opposition member Abdul Akbar Chitrali pointed out quorum and stormed out of the house along with his opposition members except Pakistan Peoples Party. There were hardly few treasury members but the protesting members ended their protest and came back to the chamber. The Supreme Court decision granting bail to Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) parliamentary leader Makhdoom Javed Hashmi also echoed in the house with the opposition anxiously waiting to welcome Hashmi when he is likely to attend the session on Monday.
Aftab Khan Sherpao, this time, found the opportunity to wind up the incomplete speech in which he narrated the reasons behind the military operation against Lal Masjid alleged militants. He denied opposition's claims that the causalities were in thousand. He reaffirmed government's resolve not to letting anybody using Pakistani soil for the terrorism. Sherpao also sent a clear message to the United States that no country would be allowed to military force inside Pakistan. The interior minister urged parliamentarians for unanimous resolution condemning string of suicide bombings across the country, especially targeting security forces. He told the lower house that Pakistan and Afghanistan were holding a grant peace Jirga on August 9 to address the root causes of insurgency in war-torn country.