Role of IPU: War industry-boosting nations disinterested in peace: Rabbani

Senate chairman underscores need for enhanced parliamentary diplomacy

ISLAMABAD: Countries more focused on promoting their economies by boosting the production of their war industries are disinterested in establishing peace in conflict-hit regions, Senate Chairman Raza Rabbani said on Thursday.

Rabbani’s remarks -- cited in a statement issued by the Senate’s media cell – came during his meeting with International Parliamentary Union (IPU) secretary general in Geneva.

Rabbani underscored the need for enhanced parliamentary diplomacy and institutional cooperation among parliaments to promote peace and protect human rights.



“There is a need to promote parliamentary democracy at national and international levels for promotion of peace and protection of human rights,” Rabbani said.

Proposing a more vibrant role for the IPU, he said that there was a dire need to make collective efforts to resolve those issues.

The Senate chairman said that long-standing, contentious issues and disputes needed to be resolved, especially in the Asian region, for the restoration of regional and global peace.

He also apprised the IPU secretary general about the recent initiatives taken by Pakistan’s Senate. Rabbani was especially invited by the IPU president Saber Chowdhury to attend the session.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 28^th, 2016.