Senators from opposition and government ally JUI-F on Monday took serious note of the statement given by US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton threatening Pakistan in the garb of Faisal Shazad's involvement in the failed terror act at Times Square, in New York.
The members of the Upper House also urged the government to give a clear-cut response to the threats. On a point of order, PML-N Senator Zafar Ali Shah said that the US Secretary of State had categorically threatened Pakistan of serious consequences on the Faisal Shahzad case, despite the fact that Pakistan has given countless sacrifices, being frontline ally of the US in the so-called war on terror.
He said that the issue was extremely serious, and sought government point of view from the Defence Minister, who was sitting in the House at the time. But, Defence Minister Ahmed Mukhtar was reluctant to comment on the issue, saying that due to the sensitivity of the issue and criticism from different quarters, the government has authorised the Foreign Minister to give policy statement in respect of the Times Square failed terror act.
Zafar said that the threatening statement of US Secretary of State was alarming for Pakistan, and the government should have a clear stance in this regard. He criticised Pakistan's Foreign Policy, saying that "our Foreign Minister defends India in public", negating its involvement in the violation of water treaty.
"We should also show our eyes to the US by taking similar stance, instead of bowing down to pressure", he added. Salim Saifullah of PML-Q said that the statement of Hillary with respect to Pakistan was condemnable after the recent proclaimed successful strategic dialogue between the two countries.
He said that the new saga of Faisal Shahzad seemed to be a conspiracy, as he better knows Faisal's father and other family members who come from respectable family. He also urged the Defence Minister to give statement in this regard on the floor of the Parliament and give a categorical message to the US.
Haroon Khan of PML-Q said that Pakistan should pressurise the US as Faisal Shahzad is not a Pakistani citizen, and he uses his US passport. Government ally party JUI-F member Ghafoor Haideri said that the House should pass a unanimous resolution to condemn the statement of the US Secretary of State. He said that the 9/11 incident was a drama, and the recent Faisal Shahzad case was also a drama staged by the US to use Pakistan once again.
Earlier, JUI-F senators walked out of the House in protest against the operation in Kala Dhakah of Mansehra Division. They demanded of the government to immediately halt it. ANP's Afrasiab Khattak said that there was no military operation in Kala Dhaka but the local police and FC were engaged in search operation to flush out some militants who fled there from Malakand division after the operation.
He added that the search operation was being conducted with the help of local elders. On a point of order, Tahir Hussain Meshedi, of MQM, raised the issue of land grabbing in Karachi, terming it an institutionalised mafia working with the help of local administration and police.
Comments
Comments are closed.