Former Chairman Senate Raza Rabbani on Friday came down hard on the powerful establishment for acting a silent spectator over a bold initiative taken by a former ISI chief, who co-authored a book with a former RAW chief. Speaking on a point of public importance in the Senate, he said if a Pakistani civilian politician had dared to co-author such a book with any of his Indian counterpart or an ordinary citizen, decrees of a traitor would have been issued.
"The politician would not have only been labeled a traitor [and] but also a never ending protest demonstrations against him across the country would have been launched," he regretted. He continued that on one hand, the relations between the two countries are at the lowest ebb, while on the other such a book is being launched which is written by two former spymasters of India and Pakistan.
He questioned whether the former ISI chief had taken permission from the federal government or his own institution, the military, before co-authoring a book with his Indian counterpart. "If the former ISI chief did not feel it necessary at all to take permission from the federal government or the military, did he ever bother to inform them prior going for a such a venture?" he questioned.
This prompted Chairman Senate Sadiq Sanjrani to say that it is a very sensitive issue as relations between the two countries are at worse. He then asked Minister for Law and Justice Mehmood Bashir Virk to shed light on the controversy, who said he knew nothing about it. The chairman Senate then sought a reply from Defence Ministry to inform the House about the issue and questions raised by Rabbani.
'The Spy Chronicles: RAW, ISI and the Illusion of Peace', one of the most unusual books has recently been released in India, in which an Indian spook and a Pakistani spy decided to team up, leaving the civilian leadership of the country astonished as they could not dare taking such a bold step with any Indian.
Speaking on a point of public importance, Opposition Leader in Senate Sherry Rehman raised the issue of construction of Kashanganga power project and said that through this, India could change the flow of River Neelam. She pointed out that the power plant was not only a violation of the river ambit but it will also have its negative impacts on surface of water in Pakistan. Sherry wanted the government to pay attention to this matter of grave public importance and security.
She maintained that the Indus Basin Treaty allows Pakistan to have control over three rivers: the Indus, Jehlum and Chenab. She added that there is widespread concern over this crisis-like situation. The World Bank, she emphasized, should also play its role in this connection and urged the chair to direct the government to brief the House regarding measures being taken to address this alarming situation, arising out of the Indian power project construction.