“Sovereign equality and mutual respect, no unilateral actions inside or against Pakistan, and no transgression of territorial frontiers” were the defined redlines enumerated by the premier in a policy statement to take the National Assembly into confidence over the government’s decisions in the aftermath of last month’s Nato attack in Mohmand Agency.
“As a responsible state, Pakistan will continue to uphold and promote the cause of regional peace and stability. However, in doing so, we shall ensure that our legitimate interests are not only recognised but fully accommodated. This fundamental point of principle needs to be understood by our international partners,” stated the PM.
He said that the decision to close Nato/Isaf logistics supply lines was taken in line with the resolution of parliament’s joint session held in July after the Abbottabad operation, adding that the decision of the Defence Committee of the Cabinet had also been materialised. Gilani also announced that the Shamsi airbase had been vacated.
“We now await recommendations from the Parliamentary Committee on National Security and future course of action will be decided by parliament,” he said.
Accusations, accusations
Meanwhile, archrivals Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) exchanged accusations which lasted till the house was adjourned for next day.
“We no longer trust the statements of the prime minister,” said Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan, taking a jibe at the ruling party.
Giving an earlier reference of the PM’s address in the Senate, Nisar Ali Khan asked the government to share with it details if there was a real threat to the democratic system.
“Tell us in clear terms, and if there are any serious conspiracies, we will be with you,” he said to Gilani.
“Had we been interested in conspiring against the government, we should have had done it three years ago,” he said.
“Today, it has been proved that the Shamsi airbase was handed over to a foreign power. Why was this being denied for the last 10 years?” he questioned.
Why so secretive?
The opposition leader grilled the government over its strategy regarding President Asif Ali Zardari’s health and his controversial visit to Dubai.
“We wish for the president’s good health and early recovery but it seems that the government is hiding facts about his health,” he said while advising the government to issue “health bulletins” regarding the president’s health.
In a tit-for-tat response to Nisar’s speech, Qamar Zaman Kaira reminded the PML-N that the Shamsi airbase was handed over to the UAE during their rule in the early 90s.
“We have nothing to hide and the PM had made everything clear in his statement,” Kaira said.
The Federal Minister for Information Technology lamented that the opposition was busy taking jibes at the government during a time when its support was most needed.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 16th, 2011.
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@Cautious: Why don't you follow the UN resolutions on Kashmir?
Redundantly insignificant.
Very important speech where sovereignty of our beloved Pakistan is discussed and national patriotic feeling is on its height. People especially fanatic Mullahs are bringing people in hundreds of thousands for processions, effigies and national flags of our 'enemies' are burned but our National Assembly is having only twenty two visible members, I think out of over three hundred. Given credit for eight invisible seated, there were only ten percent listening to such an important speech (my nation loves ten percent) and no ‘heroes’ with expensive and showy uniforms from our military were present.
Mr Prime Minister. Please explain what real results have we given to international community. We just got our innocent civilians killed, many jawans dead, how come we are still having likes of JuD and LeT and tons of Talibanis left in the country ? A job half done is job not finished. And a job as crucial as war on terror has no room for half done , it has either to be finished or not done. So irrespective of common Pakistani's sacrifice the job is not done by Pakistan. And this is thanks to the duplicity of our military in their selective action against terrorists. Can you please show as strong resolve as your current speech on sovereignty to uproot all terrorists organization in Pakistan which is not just killing innocent, but also spreading extremism, poisoning minds of young, spreading hatred and very successfully isolating us from world community. As a Pakistani I do not want to be labeled as terrorist every where I go. I am being labeled as terrorist not because world is plotting against me, but because my military and government has allowed terrorism industry to thrive. Please wake up and do your real job. Work for progress and protection of Pakistanis and it can;t be done without uprooting extremisim in the country. Khuda Hafiz!
Hello,, Hello,, Anyone listening????
You don't have the sovereign right to provide sanctuary to terrorist -- and the UN has adopted resolutions after 911 which makes that clear to everyone except Pakistan.