Punjab

Punjab cancels 6 MoUs with US

Punjab Law minister says aid agreements cancelled in in protest over the secret raid that killed Osama bin Laden.

Reuters May 20, 2011

LAHORE: Punjab has cancelled six aid agreements with the United States in protest over the secret US raid that killed Osama bin Laden, its law minister said on Friday.

Pakistan hailed Bin Laden's death as a big step against militancy but was incensed by the raid in Abbottabad, saying it was a violation of sovereignty.

"We have cancelled six MoUs (memorandums of understanding) with the United States in the fields of health, education and solid waste management," said Rana Sanaullah, Law Minister of Punjab.

"We have conveyed their concerned departments about our decision. This is our protest against the Abbottabad incident."

The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) has called for a review of the country's ties with Washington, urging the government to reduce reliance on foreign aid.

A PML-N spokesman said Punjab had been expected to get Rs20 billion rupees for welfare projects in the next three years from the United States.

Bin Laden's presence in Pakistan has led to calls by some US congressmen to cut aid to the country, which is heavily dependent on American financial assistance.

COMMENTS (23)

AnisAqeel | 12 years ago | Reply "Aid rejection in the fields of health, education and solid waste management." The only part of aid to be used for the dire needs of poor people of Pakistan. In protest for the killing of a terrorist who ruined the sovereignty of Pakistan for more than five years and was involved in innocent peoples killing, and left Muslim league (Nawaz) as an orphan. When standard of our leadership is on this level, we really need Gods blessings.

Khurram | 12 years ago | Reply "We have conveyed their concerned departments about our decision. This is our protest against the Abbottabad incident.” Rana Sanaullah Sahib, the Abbottabad incident is over and done with why such a decision now I can draw only two conclusions from such belated decision making either you are completely incapable of looking beyond the edge of your nose or you people are in bed with the Fundos and TTP if you could remember General Musharraf called Sharif Brothers closet Talibans and suddenly the release of this long held back rancor clearly confirms the latter and I strongly suspect that is where your true sympathies lie with the TTP and not with the common man who would have benefited from these programs.

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Karim Khan | 12 years ago | Reply What a pathetic example of good governance!

Maria | 12 years ago | Reply @robin: Do you not realise the issue as seen by Pakistanis is a violation of our sovereignty. Yes OBL was a criminal who deserved to be served justice but the Pak military should have been informed about the operation and given a chance to participate since it is Pakistani soil.

ishaq | 12 years ago | Reply Cheap Election Campaigning

Idrees Kamal | 12 years ago | Reply Not more than a drama. Sharifs can survive with Saudi aid but US AID for the people of the province. Without health and Education facilities means more terrorists.

Rohail | 12 years ago | Reply Childish.

Haytt | 12 years ago | Reply bogus party with bogus vision and approach , why to cancel such MoU's which was directly serving the cause of common people

robin | 12 years ago | Reply outrageous and proposterious A PROTEST (against the killing of the most notorious terrorist world has ever seen) is pakistan finally pouring out its deep sentiments of jehadism. does it mean that they would rather have allowed osama to live there and plan more killings. they should be thankful to United States for an overwhelming support (even in their worst economic conditions)

Ali | 12 years ago | Reply The same Nawaz Sharif who agreed to boycott the election with APDM in London and came to Pakistan and ran in Election... The same nawaz Sharif who signed a deal to leave the country when times were hard and his die hard supporters was rotting in jail...and he came running back when he could run in election.. Can we love the right people...not the ones who have wronged us many a times.

Ahmer | 12 years ago | Reply May I suggest Punjab go a step further and sign a dozen MoUs (with US, AQ, or any other party) on promotion of disease, ignorance, and littering; or, better still, a firm agreement to take us back to to the stone age.

Mohammad | 12 years ago | Reply Pakistani Should stand it self..its 100% true US-Gov't Gives Lots of Money to pakistani Gov't to spend on there poor needy people but that money only goes to Upper level Gov't Runners.and there childrens ..to there Over-Seas Accounts..

Blah | 12 years ago | Reply So wait we dont care about military aid but god forbid if can get any form of aid from US which can actually help the people...who needs education and health anyways.

Saad Durrani | 12 years ago | Reply A class example of "facepalm". Stop digesting those 2 rupay ki roti.

sharma | 12 years ago | Reply Why not stop all defense contracts and continue to get the benefits in social sectore!! He wants pakistan to keep eating desi grass !! Either have relations with usa or be 100% cut off like iran,north korea!! No middle path is allowed

Hasan | 12 years ago | Reply As usual only poor will suffer and MIan sahiban and Rana sahib will maintain their wealth and elite status. Another way to fool the common people while keeping them too poor and weak to revolt against the elite.

Akbar | 12 years ago | Reply Another topi drama.

Rana | 12 years ago | Reply Mian Nawaz Sharif, we love you.

Shan | 12 years ago | Reply Why is there a rejection in aid in the fields of health and education????!!! they should reject aid if it is only as charity, if its mutual beneficial, then aid should be taken. Its not the aid, its how the aid has been used to fill up personal accounts. The degradation of health and education in Punjab will only affect the people of Pakistan, Nawaz Sharif and PML-N will go abroad for their health purpose. This is another politically aimed move. No thought of how it will affect the people of Pakistan.

salahuddin | 12 years ago | Reply This is Just a Drama of N-League . Punjab is a Province , NOT a country , secondly Is Punjab Government gave any plan for self reliance ? The Answer is NO ....... That is Why people call it not more then a Drama ......

Humayun | 12 years ago | Reply We should take initiative to build our country rather then depending on US Aid. It is tough to reject the US aid but decision is good in the long run.

Irfan | 12 years ago | Reply Zindabad, my vote for Mian Sahab..Nawaz Sharif Zindabad.

Nizam | 12 years ago | Reply Why reject aid on health, education and solid waste management? It makes no sense.

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