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ISLAMABAD,
Oct 24 (APP): Law makers in the Upper House of the Parliament Friday expressed
serious concerns and condemned Thursday’s US drone strike in Miran Shah killing
several people. The members
urged the government to adopt a joint resolution condemning the incident,
showing resolve and asking the armed forces to stand guard for security of the
territory.
“The
government has no two opinions on this issue. It stands by its previous stance
of unexpectability of such violations. We have a principled stand since the
Prime Minister took oath,” said Raza Rabbani, Leader of the House in the Senate.
“I want to
make it abundantly clear. The government would not allow anybody to violate its
territorial integrity. We had strongly protested at the highest level and
condemn this violation again,” Rabbani said.
He said,
the President and the Prime Minister had also taken up these violation earlier
and made it clear through Foreign Office that Pakistan strongly condemns such
acts.
He said the
government was given assurances that violations would not be repeated. “But, it
is unfortunate that despite assurances, violations continue and I on behalf of
the government strongly condemn it.”
“We shall
not stand for or allow violation of our ground and air space,” he said, adding,
the matter is also cause of concern in wake of the consensus resolution adopted
by the joint sitting of the Parliament.
He said
Parliament is voice of people and so is the resolution and “we expect and look
forward that all foreign powers including the United States would accord due
respect to the will of people of Pakistan.”
“I once
again strongly condemn this incident and assure that we shall not allow that
resolution to wither away,” Rabbani said.
Earlier,
Senator Prof. Khursheed Ahmed had drawn the attention of the government towards
unwarranted strikes of the US drones into Pakistan’s tribal areas.
He said
since last two years, it was 67th across the border strike and 32
strikes occurred just during last seven months killing hundreds of people and
injuring scores others.
He
described the strike as serious in wake of the consensus resolution adopted by
the Parliament at its joint sitting, stressing to review the Pakistan’s policy
and de-link itself from war against terror.
He said
whole the nation was happy on adoption of the resolution and we appreciate the
role of the Prime Minister who encouraged a new beginning.
“But,
United States is poised to sabotage our this creative effort. Their officials
visited Pakistan during the session with a message that no dialogue would be
held with those active in tribal areas and if so, Pakistan would not be provided
financial assistance,” he said.
He also
proposed to adopt a resolution condemning the incident, warning against
violations and expression of firm resolve to protect our territory.
Senator
Abdul Rahim Mandokhel said it is responsibility of the government to assure that
no external forces violate our boundaries.
“The House
should adopt a resolution urging the government to ensure that no external
elements violate our territorial integrity,” he said.
Senator
Nisar Memon also condemned the incident on behalf of his party Pakistan Muslim
League and said, it should be made clear in light of the consensus resolution
adopted by joint sitting that no intrusion or invasion into our territory will
be tolerated.
He urged to
summon the US Ambassador to Foreign Office to lodge a protest and instruct our
armed forces also, not to tolerate such intrusion.
Senator
Tariq Azim said the attack was carried out in the wake of joint resolution
adopted by the Parliament, representing the voice of Pakistani people, and
termed it an attack on sovereignty of the Parliament.
He said the
Speaker National Assembly should have canceled her meeting with the US
ambassador on Thursday in protest and added that the US ambassador should be
summoned to Foreign Office to register protest.
He
expressed concerns about the frequent visit of US Assistant Secretary of State
Richards Boucher and said, the US intervention in the internal affairs of
Pakistan would not be tolerated.
Towards the
end of the discussion on the subject, Leader of the House sought time till
Monday to come up with more details for the House and decide on the future
course.
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