All Parties Conference: Political parties decry foreign policy, oppose interference

Participants laud the Supreme Court, say people have put their trust in the judiciary.

KARACHI:

The country’s foreign policy was derided and blamed for the lawlessness in the country when leaders of political parties spoke at All Parties Conference at the Karachi press Club on Sunday.

The conference was arranged by Tehreek-e-Istiqlal to discuss the security situation of the country.

A resolution was also passed in favour of the Pakistan Army and to make a foreign policy that ensures the state does not use resources to carry out operations for other countries’ interests.

Rehmat Khan Wardag, the Tehreek-e-Istiqlal president, said the current problems are not the problems of an individual party or person, but the whole country’s, which must unite at this time.

President of the Awami Muslim League Karachi, Mahfooz Yar Khan, said that if we want a stable and safe Pakistan then we have to change our foreign policy. “We should sign no-war pacts with countries if needed,” she suggested. “If we are handing over Gwadar to China, then we should sign a defence pact in return”.

He appreciated the Supreme Court order for removing the Rangers director-general from his post. “The Supreme Court’s decision has stopped people from taking revenge [for the shooting of the teenager by the Rangers in Clifton]. People trust the Supreme Court to be watching every institution,” said Khan.

Jamaat-e-Islami’s Birjees Ahmed criticised the US interference in the country. “We are fighting America’s war because of which a million Pakistanis have been displaced. If you think that by following America’s orders we can gain stability and peace, you are wrong”. The Supreme Court should take action against those who released four Americans who were arrested in Islamabad few days ago, he added.

Meanwhile, Amanullah Paracha of the Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid pointed fingers at the opposition, saying that they are following an American agenda. “We have sold our sovereignty for only $2 billion,” remarked MP Gindwani of the Pakistan Hindu Council. The reason behind the surge in acts of terrorism is Pakistan being a frontline state in the war against terrorism. He also said that some elements are trying to defame our army according to a well-planned conspiracy.

Asmatullah Niazi of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf and Prof. ND Khan of the Pakistan Peoples Party also spoke at the conference.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 13^th, 2011.