Drone attacks, targeted killings: PML-N stages walkout from National Assembly in protest

Members belonging to Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Thursday staged walkout from the National Assembly in protest against drone attacks, target killing in Balochistan and Karachi and recent increase in petroleum products prices.
The members of PML-N also raised slogans against drone attacks and petroleum prices, "drone attacks unacceptable, petroleum prices unacceptable, withdraw increase in petroleum prices, during speech of their party member Abdul Qadar Baloch during debate on presidential address. The opposition as well as treasury members strongly opposed drone attacks inside Pakistan territory and urged the government to revisit its foreign policy. They said that the innocent people are being killed in these attacks, giving rise to militancy.
Khawja Saeed Rafiq of PML-N said that drone attacks could endanger sovereignty of Pakistan. He further said that suicide attacks are backlash of drone attacks. "We should formulate a comprehensive policy by setting aside party interest. In this regard, the prime minister has to take initiative to stop drone attacks," he said.
Saeed Rafiq said that the government should take solid steps to end targeted killings in Balochistan and Karachi. He said that PML-N fully support constitution of a Judicial Commission to investigate the fleeing of Raymond Davis-a CIA official who killed two Pakistanis in Lahore. He also demanded of the government to withdraw its decision of increase in prices of petroleum products. He said that the people are already facing difficulties due to price hike in the country.
Earlier, Abdul Qadar Baloch said while debating on the speech of presidential address to the joint sitting of the Parliament that the prime minister, the government and this house should decide about stoppage of drone attacks. In this regard, there is no need to get help from foreign countries, it is will of the country to stop such attacks,' he said.
About the issue of Balochistan, he said that law and order situation and target killing in the province is very serious issue and the government should pay attention to resolve them. Baloch said that the government should withdraw the recent increase in petroleum products prices. He said that price hike and unemployment are big issues of the country and the government should address them for the relief of the people.
PPP-sherpao Chairman Aftab Ahmed Khan Sherpao said while taking part in the debate on presidential address to the joint sitting of the parliament that he did not hear the presidential address, however; he had gone through the speech and found nothing new in it, adding that NFC award, BISP, Fata reforms were also highlighted by the President during his previous speech.
He said the government should review its foreign policy and adopt a strict stance to stop drone attacks inside Pakistan. He said that whenever the government wants to revisit its policy, drone attacks could not be stopped. He said Fata reforms were awaiting approval of the President for implementation. All political parties were united on the issue that 'political parties act' should be implemented in Fata and reforms be implemented immediately. "Federal and as well as provincial governments should take pragmatic measures and ensure writ of the government in areas where action has been taken against the militants for peace and development along with return of the IDPs," he said. He said that the writ of militant is increasing in tribal areas while the writ of the government is on back foot.
"As many as 1200 out of 2200 industrial units in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa have been closed due to law and order situation while 20,000 workers have been affected. A task force should be formed to examine the closure of industrial units in KPK," he said.
He said that damaged and destroyed educational system in KPK and Fata be reconstructed and rehabilitated. Sherpao said that militants have destroyed a total of 1,120 schools, 711 in KPK and 409 in Fata while 250 schools have been closed due to threats to the teachers. Dropout ratio in tribal areas is 63 percent of boy students, 73 percent of girls. While literacy rate in boys is 17 percent and girls 3 percent," he said.
Aftab Sherpao said that new dams are need of the hour, adding that Munda dam project and Lowari Tunnel like projects are still pending due to security and non-allocation of funds. Members, Noor Alam Khan, Asif Hasnain and Mian Abdul Sattar also participated in debate on the Presidential address to the Parliament.