Parliamentary Committee on National Security: Senator quits panel in protest

Khurshid Ahmed bemoans non-implementation of recommendations.

ISLAMABAD:

A vociferous protest by the upper house against a hearing on Balochistan at a United States congressional panel was not sufficient for one lawmaker.

Senator Khurshid Ahmed of Jamat-e-Islami on Friday resigned from his membership of the Parliamentary Committee on National Security (PCNS), in protest against government’s policy vis-à-vis the United States.

“The government never implemented [the lawmakers’] recommendations when it comes to Pakistan’s foreign policy towards the United States,” the senator said while announcing his decision of quitting the parliamentary panel.

“I will announce my future strategy in a joint session of Parliament, probably to be held this month,” he added.

The senator said he had not been attending the parliamentary panel’s meetings since January 14, when the committee sent its recommendations to Parliament on the issue of drone strikes and Nato supplies.

Chairperson of the panel Senator Raza Rabbani said that Senator Khurshid’s resignation has been sent to the National Assembly speaker.

Senator Khurshid quit the committee following his party policy on the issue of drone attacks and Nato supplies, the chairperson said.

He added, however, that JI’s recommendations were included in the final report that his committee passed on to the prime minister for further deliberation in a joint session of Parliament.

Senator Rabbani also reacted to US Ambassador Cameron Munter’s statement that Pakistan’s airspace was being used for Nato supplies.

“After taking Munter’s statement seriously, we have summoned the secretaries of foreign affairs and defence for explanation,” he said.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 11^th, 2012.