Treasury, opposition submit resolutions

Both condemn US Congress resolution about Balochistan.

LAHORE:

PML-N MPA Dr Zamarrud Yasmeen Rana and PML-Q Parliamentary Leader Chaudhry Zaheeruddin Khan have handed their resolutions to the Punjab Assembly (PA) secretariat against a resolution moved by a US congressman regarding right of self determination for Balochistan.

Khan condemned the US resolution and called it a conspiracy against the country’s territorial integrity and a violation of international laws.

He also said that PML-Q leader Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain had worked hard to empower the people of Balochistan. The resolution asked why US lawmakers were silent over Kashmir and added that the people of Pakistan and their leaders will ensure that all attempts to destabilise the country would be foiled.

Dr Rana urged the PA to recommend to the federal government to solve the problems faced by the people of Balochistan as an urgent priority.

Her resolution said the US embassy’s press release in this regard was not sufficient clarification and the house should demand that the US ambassador explain his government’s stance. It further stated that the US Congress resolution was irrelevant to the issues involved and amounted to an intervention in the country’s domestic affairs.

The resolution also asked the PA to recommend to the federal government to convince the US to raise its voice against the brutality of Indian occupation in the Kashmir valley.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 21^st, 2012.