Sceptic PTI hammers govt on Saudi alliance

Govt assures to present ToRs in parliament when finalised

ISLAMABAD: The government has once again assured parliament that it would present the terms of reference (ToRs) of Saudi-led military alliance of 41 Muslim countries against terrorism in the house once they were finalised.

Responding to an adjournment motion moved by PTI’s Shireen Mazari, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif said: “ToRs of the proposed alliance of 41 countries led by the kingdom of Saudi Arabia are yet to be formulated and once they are finalised the government will table them in parliament.”

He made a similar statement on Tuesday to which Senate Chairman Mian Raza Rabani issued directives that the government would have to present the ToRs of the military alliance in both the houses of parliament before they were tabled in the cabinet meeting for ratification.



Also, PPPP lawmakers staged a walkout from the National Assembly on Thursday against the absence of relevant minister to respond to a query over ‘enforced’ disappearances of their party loyalists.

When the PTI moved the adjournment motion on the military alliance, the treasury benches opted not to oppose it.

Asif, while responding to the motion, emphatically stated that “Pakistan will not become part of any conflict between two Muslim countries”.

In case such a situation arises, Pakistan would rather play the role of a moderator, he added.

Narrating the standard procedure of issuing a no-objection certificate (NOC) to Gen (retd) Raheel Sharif to head the alliance, the minister said: “He (Sharif) will apply for NOC when the ToRs are finalised.”

He also assured the lower house that Pakistan would not become part of the war in Yemen as per the resolution which was adopted by parliament.



Dr Mazari, narrating concerns of his party on the alliance, said: “There are no clear ToRs or parameters of the alliance,” adding, “No country joins any alliance least of all a military alliance, which will always include boots on the ground without a clear understanding of what the alliance entails.”

“In any case terrorism cannot be fought through a multilateral military alliance,” the PTI lawmaker opined.

Dr Mazari, while debating the alliance, said: “Multilateral accords can help fight terrorism if they are economic in nature to check terror financing – or politico-diplomatic, but at present intra-Muslim state conflicts are more severe than fighting terrorism.”

She also pointed out the contradictory statements of the government regarding issuing the NOC to Gen (retd) Sharif.



“First, he (Asif) gave out that the Pakistani government had given an NOC to Gen (retd) Sharif while Gen (retd) Qadir Baloch stated that Gen Sharif should not take up this assignment as it was controversial,” she said.

She said Khawaja Asif on April 5 said that it was in Pakistan’s own interests to invest in the defence of Arab states as several other countries were also showing interests and assisting them.

“Questions then arise again about the nature of the alliance,” Dr Mazari added.

“The military alliance seems contradictory to Article 40 of the Constitution of Pakistan.”



She said it was not in Pakistan’s national interest to get involved in others’ wars because its people were still suffering the consequences of such involvements in the past.

The PTI's chief-whip in the NA stressed the need to evolve a consensus in parliament before making external commitment.

PTI’s Asad Umar said the decision to enter into Saudi-led alliance was a major one which would have grave consequences on Pakistan.



“Any decision to this effect should only be taken by parliament after discussion,” he added.

Umar said Pakistan in the 1950s became part of CENTO and SEATO and as a result of which Pakistan paid a heavy price in 1971.

PTI’s Dr Arif Alvi demanded a joint sitting of parliament over the issue. He said counter-narrative of extremism would come from Pakistan and not from other countries like Saudi Arabia or Iran as Pakistan has a lot to share in this context.



PTI’s Ghulam Sarwar said: “Iran is Pakistan’s neighbouring country and Pakistan should not become part of any alliance over which Iran has reservations.”

Earlier, Opposition Leader Khursheed Shah again raised the issue regarding disappearance of three PPP loyalists on the floor of the House.

He said under the law it was mandatory to produce any accused before a judicial magistrate in 24 hours but this was not done in the case of disappearance of the PPP loyalists.

As the government failed to satisfy queries of the PPPP lawmakers, they staged a walkout from the house.

When Khawaja Asif was responding to the motion of the PTI, a lawmaker of the PPPP pointed out quorum and the sitting was adjourned by the chair.