Senate chairman calls for expelling Swiss envoy

Berne tells Islamabad BLA posters in Geneva no violation of law

ISLAMABAD: Senate Chairman Raza Rabbani censured the Foreign Office, calling for expulsion of the Swiss ambassador after Berne refused to take action over anti-Pakistan activities by an outlawed group.

Rabbani’s remarks came after Law Minister Zahid Hamid gave a policy statement in the Upper House of Parliament about the protest lodged with Switzerland over appearance of several anti-Pakistan posters on a road to the UN offices in Geneva.

Swiss authorities have informed the Pakistan government that display of anti-Pakistan posters in Geneva by a group linked with banned outfit, the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA), is not a violation of their domestic laws, Hamid said, speaking on behalf of the foreign minister.



Earlier this week, Pakistani diplomats in Geneva identified several “Free Balochistan” posters displayed along Rue de Ferney in the Grand Sacconex municipality – the road that leads to UN office. “Balochistan House”, an affiliate of the BLA, which is outlawed by Pakistan, the UK and some other countries was stated to be sponsor of this campaign.

Hamid told the House on Wednesday Pakistan’s permanent representative to the United Nations in Geneva accosted his Swiss counterpart, and the Foreign Office in Islamabad summoned the Swiss envoy and registered Pakistan’s strong protest.

“They [Switzerland] have informed Pakistan, no action can be taken because BLA activity was not [in] violation of Swiss laws,” minister read from a Foreign Office statement. He disclosed that Pakistan had received similar response from the Swiss government when some other organisation, with the name of Christian associations, were doing anti-Pakistan propaganda in Geneva.

However, the statement drew ire of the Senate including its chairman who passed strongly-worded remarks.

“So they are doing nothing. It is a violation of international law. Swiss soil is being used against Pakistan,” Rabbani said. “On FO brief I can say a lot but I won’t,” he added.



“If the Swiss government is exporting terrorism in Pakistan what our government is doing,” he said. “The Foreign Office should ask the Swiss ambassador to leave the country.”

The House greeted the remarks with a loud desk-thumbing.

Meanwhile, the chair referred to the whole House the issue of breach of privilege, arising out of an allegedly wrong reply to a question about implementation of the recommendations of inquiry held last year over malpractices in the Aero Medical Department of the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA).

Speaking on his motion, PPP’s Farhatullah Babar waved a copy of the CAA’s letter on the subject conveying approval of the director general to certain actions to be taken in the light of recommendations of the board of inquiry.

Babar said instead of taking action, incomplete replies were given to the House. “It appears a case of cover-up, protecting some individuals and misleading the House,” he said and called for referring the matter to the Privileges Committee.



MQM’s Mian Attique alleged there was some nexus among doctors of the Aero Medical Department and they were involved in numerous malpractices. He said he had tried in the past to raise his voice but failed to get heard.

The chair asked Babar for the copies of the documents after which he placed the matter before the House and sought opinion if it was dealt with by the Committee on Privileges or by the House itself. After ascertaining the sense of the House, the chair referred the matter to the Privileges Committee directing also that the House would take a decision after the committee had examined it within next two weeks.

Hafiz Hamdullah of the JUI-F, through a calling-attention notice, claimed the US was building a mini-Pentagon in Islamabad “by illegally extending its embassy in Islamabad”.

Quoting media reports, he claimed the embassy had been raised to seven-storey building without approval from the Capital Development Authority (CDA). According to him, sensitive surveillance equipment could be installed at such high buildings.

The senator also claimed the US had purchased top floor of an under-construction high rise building on the Constitutional Avenue and that the matter was highlighted in an auditor general’s report.

Minister for Capital Administration and Development Division Tariq Fazal Chaudhry rebuked the JUI-F senator’s claims, saying two embassies – of the US and Bangladesh – were duly given permission by the CDA to construct seven-storey buildings in the Diplomatic Enclave.

He said before giving permission, the CDA got security clearance from the security agencies. “I want to tell the Maulana it’s age of technology and satellites. They do not need such buildings for surveillance anymore,” he added.

Meanwhile, the chairman said he would either be giving ruling or holding a huddle of Committee of the Whole over delay in the new National Finance Award. The issue was raised by PPP’s Sassui Palejo, who said some political parties wanted to move the Supreme Court on the issue. Rabbani said it was a political matter which should not be dragged to the courts