ISLAMABAD: The National Assembly on Monday unanimously approved a resolution condemning a US Congressional Foreign Relations Sub-committee hearing on Balochistan, Express News reported.
The resolution said that they will not tolerate any interference in the internal matters of Pakistan.
The house voted after Opposition leader Chaudhry Nisar had moved the resolution.
The Foreign Office said in a statement that the US Charge d' Affairs, Richard Hoagland, was called to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and was officially conveyed the government's serious concern.
"This was unacceptable as it amounted to interference in the internal affairs of the country," the Charge d' Affairs was informed.
Hoagland assured that the US Administration had not extended any support to the initiative nor did it subscribe to such views, the statement added.
Pakistani Senators and Ambassador in the US had voiced their concerns over the hearing last week. Senator Raza Rabbani said the US Sub-Committee had no jurisdiction, and that it was “direct intervention” into Pakistan’s internal matters. Sherry Rehman called the hearing “ill-timed”.
Last week, for the first time after decades of simmering strife, disenfranchisement and disenchantment in Balochistan made it to the limelight in the US – and not unexpectedly Pakistan was cast in negative light in a US congressional hearing.
In a packed room of the Rayburn House Office Building, members of the House Foreign Affairs’ Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations on February 10, 2012, focused on condemning the Pakistani government and accusing it of broad human rights abuses against the Baloch.
Correction: An earlier version of this story, as per information available then incorrectly mentioned that the US Ambassador was called to the Foreign Office to lodge a formal complaint. This is incorrect, the Charge d' Affairs had been summoned - as clarified in a statement issued by the Foreign Office. The error is regretted.
COMMENTS (33)
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@Haseena:
Really..........and what is PAK........oops forgot ........the land of the pure.
Sometimes I am amazed at the naivety of commentators. Many people here are more concerned about killing of Punjabis in Balochistan but they completely overlook the atrocities Baloch people are undergoing at the hands of our security establishment. Ofcourse, killing innocent people whether they are punjabis or urdu speakers is totally unacceptable, but at the same time we should not forget what turned these groups of balochs from being a very hospitable people into militants. The only answer that comes to mind is, our security establishment's ill devised policies. See what we did in East Pakistan and lost half of our homeland and we are repeating the same thing again, and expect the results to be different? Wake up, please.
@Altaf Hussain, Mumbai:
ISI is a secret agency, US congress is a diplomatic institute and it should take extra care in arranging hearings on the internal affairs of other countries, how would US react if pakistan's national essembly sits a hearing about the ligitemacy of US war on terror or the authenticity of OBL death inside pakistan?
US is evil...seriously
Balochistan has suffered enough, if the Pakistan government is too incompetent and weak to bring about a change in how the Baloch are treated, then they should not be surprised when other countries intervene. Instead of condemning the hearings, they should instead question why there are hearings taking place in the first place, and act on that accord. I am also frankly disappointed at how this was condemned even by the Baloch members of the national assembly, but of course like most politicians all they want to do is make money.
When a unanimous condemnation will come in for missing persons, mutilated and bullet-riddled bodies of Baloch People?
@Rajendra, Kashmir is an international dispute recognized by UN. Balochistan is not.
@Ambreen: Is there any hope that Pakistani will come out of the conspiracy theory and start thinking rationally ? Russia , China and iran supporting Afghan Taliban ?????? And your wishful thinking comes from just samll fact that the mentioned countries hate USA hence they will support their enemies ? My enemy's enemy is my friend is the logic which only Pakistan follows, other countries think diplomatically and long term effect on whom they support and how much they support and whom they oppose. Do you really think Russia, Iran and China can risk the consequences of being caught in supporting Afghan Taliban against USA ?? The question here is not that who they are supporting against but who they supporting! Russia and China have their own problems in curbing islamic extremism slowly creeping in their country. Do you still think or believe that they will support Afghan Taliban ?? Wake up from your day dreaming and senseless propaganda and conspiracy theory. Pakistan is unfortunately many millennium behind when it comes to world politics. You still use threats for your diplomacy thats how far you have come.
@Rajendra: Come one man. Stop crying. It must be difficult for you but please, stop crying.
@Mohammad Ali Siddiqui: "An insurgency in any part of Pakistan could not take place until and unless it is backed and funded by the foreign countries." - Bhai, Suddenly you seem to have understand that logic what India has been saying about terrorism in Kashmir. You reap what you sow. If my impotent government is really behind your troubles and proven so I will seriously feel a bit proud that my government is able to give back befitting reply. But I know it is just my wishful thinking. Your government has so far failed to provide even it;'s own people any proof to show foreign powers are involved in your own created troubles.
I am surprised that people of Pakistan are so sensitive when other nations are concerned about the plight of 'freedom fighters' of Baluchistan. They are not terrorists - just freedom fighters.
I don't know whether India is supporting their freedom struggle. If they are, Indian Govt. should promptly issue an official statement that says " We Providing only moral and diplomatic support to the freedom fighters" of Baluchistan!
(Wait a minute - The last line, above - I might have accidentally used an old line from Pakistan's official statement. I hope nobody minds)
You seem to be coming up with lot more substantial corrections lately. First the PM indictment, now this. Are the deadlines getting more pressing, folks?
@Ambreen:
You did not answer the question, dear bro. The point was when ISI can interfere in Kashmir and Afganisthan why can't others interfere in balochistan?
@Raj - USA:
Too funny
@Rajendra Kalkhande: ISI will take care of it, u need not to worry about, u better look after Naxals and Tamils
We should call our "Parliament House" a "Resolution House". After all that is what this house only does. Shouldn't these patriots form a committee or a commission here as well? But please wait till the next invoice gets reimbursed though!
NATOs barbaric acts in Afghanistan with recent killing of innocent children is clear indication of how good US and NATO is on Human rights front. They are real trouble makers. Pakistan on the other hand is too slow and pathetic in resolving internal issues.
Pakistan has all the rights to interfere anywhere in the name of Islam, but not others. Please first practice what you want to preach. Pakistan has always been lobbying for third party intervention in Kashmir. Now its the turn of third party intervention in Baluchistan.
@Cautious: US couldn't do that openly because the logistics in Afghanistan goes through Pakistan territory and the best way was to do it covertly as Russia China Iran and Pakistan are supporting Afghan Talibans
Propaganda.......The human rights torch bearer's are biggest Human Rights Violators as well if you look at the last 100 years of world history.......there are wauwauing about extra judicial killings.....What about Drones ??? Doubles standards in the name of National Interest !!
looks like US Congressional hearing was a success. More hearings should be conducted so that Baloch suffering can get some attention.
@Mohammad Ali Siddiqui.
You read that on a conspiracy website? If the USA wanted to make life miserable for Pakistan it wouldn't take much -- their your largest trading partner - largest donor - largest military supplier and have effective control over almost all of your lending sources. Shall I go on?
All said, Pakistan's NA and Parliament is the most active such constitutional bodies anywhere in the world. So many unanimous resolutions were passed in so short time !!!!!!!!!
@Scientist: Only true patriots care
What about Pakistan 65 years of Interference in Afghanistan , Kashmir , India and Bangladesh and not to forget Iran and china too .
Fallout of not allowing NATO supplies. Otherwise, do you think they care about Balochistan?
Who cares!
I have all the reason to believe that behind the terrorists attacks and insurgency in Baluchistan, US, India and Israel are involved.
An insurgency in any part of Pakistan could not take place until and unless it is backed and funded by the foreign countries.
Every one knows that US is a double standard country.
Despite all this, there are few people in Pakistan who are the friends of US and want to open NATO supplies.
I hope that Pakistani parliament will say NO to open the NATO supply from the ground routes.
There are also reports that NATO supplies are going through the air route which should be stopped at once.
Pakistan's security forces should take a note and arrest all those people who are behind the NATO supply through Pakistani air route.
@Khan jr: Our interference in Afghanistan was due to uncle sam's war to drive out russians
Its all going according to plan isn't it?
If Pakistan resents US interference in Pakistani affairs, I wonder what the people of Afghanistan think of our interference in their affairs for the past 32 years?
foreign powers have been aiding and abetting the militants killing innocent people in balochistan.billions of rupees of pakistani govt. infrastructure has been deliberately destroyed.hundreds of punjabi and urdu speakers have been savagely killed.yet america only worries about the plight of the militant groups in balochistan,the american officials have never condemned the ethnic cleansing of punjabis inside balochistan.not a word from our liberal social media activists on the deliberate campaign of ethnic cleansing of punjabis in balochistan. the tribal leaders who treat their people as slaves are being glorified and their word being accepted as the gospel truth on every thing that happens in balochistan.
The US will file this as "Noted"
PAK is unhappy. No news here.