To simply say that the Senate condemned the US Senate Committee on Foreign Relations for hearing the Balochistan issue would be an understatement.
Piqued and chagrined beyond endurance by the development, Senators on Thursday lambasted the US for ‘meddling’ in the internal affairs of Pakistan.
The matter was raised in the Senate on Thursday by Pakistan Peoples Party Senator Raza Rabbani, who also heads the Parliamentary Committee on National Security (PCNS).
Rabbani, while affirming that the PCNS will take suo motu notice of the important issue, said that no country can be allowed to interfere in the internal matters of Pakistan. Balochistan is indeed a matter of our sovereignty, he added.
“The sovereignty of the country cannot be capitulated under the alleged reason of globalization,” he remarked.
While questioning the US’ human rights record, Rabbani referred to the movement of Occupy Wall Street which was started last year by Americans against what they called ‘corporate voracity’ and ‘injustice’
“The US is trying to internationalise the issue and foreign office of Pakistan should explain its stance as it’s a domestic and sensitive issue,” he said.
Upon Rabbani’s remarks, Chairman Senate Farooq H Naek asked Leader of the House Nayyar Husain Bukhari to convey to Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar the Upper House’s directions to explicate Pakistan’s stance on the issue, in detail.
Bokhari also supported Rabbani’s views on the issue and said it was completely “out of the question” that Pakistan and Pakistanis would allow any country to interfere in its internal matters.
Other members also fiercely crisitised the US for its “hypocrisy and insincerity” towards the Kashmir issue. Senators observed that the US becomes a silent spectator towards deliberate human rights violations in Indian Kashmir.
Lawmakers also slammed the US over carrying out drone attacks inside Pakistan, terming it a violation of international law and the most terrible example of violation of human rights, as well.
Senators Haji Adeel and Zahid Khan of the Awami National Party (ANP), however, were of a different opinion. They said keeping in view the meagre law and order situation in Balochistan, Pakistan needs to resolve severe internal issues to ensure that nobody feels the need to discuss domestic issues outside Pakistan.
They called for bringing an end to the series of kidnappings and killings in Balochistan and demanded from authorities to take to task the powerful criminal factions that are involved in such crimes.
Published in The Express Tribune, February 10th, 2012.
COMMENTS (3)
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It was the US House of Representatives not the US Senate. The US Senate Committee on Foreign Relations is led by Senator Kerry and Lugar who have been strong Pakistani supporters.
I agree with Senators Haji Adeel and Zahid Khan of the Awami National Party (ANP).
It will take a strong commitment of both staff and resources to take to task the powerful criminal factions responsible for the series of kidnappings, killings, and other crimes in Balochistan.
Some may argue that other countries also have a history of human rights violations. While this is true, it has no impact or bearing on either the human rights issue, or the law and order issue in Balochistan.
Pakistan knows that it has an issue in Balochistan. The big question is whether Pakistan will actually do something about this problem. The eyes of the world will be watching!