Mr Rabbani is a seasoned and principled parliamentarian
LAHORE: Senate Chairman Raza Rabbani’s decision to boycott the UN-sponsored International Parliamentary Union (IPU) on account of the US’s failure to issue a visa to Deputy Chairman Maulana Abdul Ghafoor Haideri is a step in the right direction. This was an official visit and Maulana Haideri did not apply for the visa personally, so delay in the issuance of a visa until the last day of the IPU is tantamount to disrespecting the Pakistani Senate and its right to representation.
Mr Rabbani is a seasoned and principled parliamentarian, and this boycott decision shows that he knows well how to safeguard the sanctity of the House he is heading. Had it been someone else, there might not be this kind of determination. This also suggests that when it comes to national issues, we should not pay any heed to our personal or party positions. The government can learn a lesson from this precedent and take such steps for positive, stable and balanced image building of the country at the international level.
Atif K Butt
Published in The Express Tribune, February 14th, 2017.
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