Upper echelon has been abuzz over the past few days with the Parliament resuming debates over the engagement policy towards US. Chief of Army Staff General Ashfaq Pervez Kayani meeting senior US and ISAF commanders on Wednesday, and Gilani meeting with the US commander in chief earlier on Tuesday.
Though before deliberations started at the Prime Minister House on Thursday, Gilani set the tone of the meeting saying, “before we debate or take any decision, the entire world is waiting patiently and respectfully following the recommendations of parliamentary parties, and they are giving it a lot of importance to them.” He continued, instilling a sense of urgency for the debates “its not only the matter of the US, it is a matter of 48 countries.”
Setting out his agenda, Gilani said “what I wanted was that before we take any decision, your responsibility as national leaders, you have your due importance, the deliberations and line of thinking that you will adopt will determine our future line of action.”
The meeting is being attended by Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar, Interior minister Rehman Malik, Federal Minsiter Khursheed Shah, Senator Raza Rabbani, Pakistan Ambassador to the US Sherry Rehman, Speaker National Assembly Fehmida Mirza, COAS, Chief of Air Staff Tahir Rafique Butt, Director General Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) Zahirul Islam.
Leader of the Opposition in the Parliament, the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan, along with opposition members Ishaq Dar.
The government’s coalition members too participated in the meeting including PML-Q’s Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain, and Mushahid Hussain Syed. JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman and the MQM’s Syed Haider Abbas Rizvi. Senator Afrasiab Khattak, Kalsoom Parveen, Haji Munir Khan Orakzai, and Muzaffar Shah were also attending the meeting.
COMMENTS (12)
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Why doesn't General Kayani announces the policy through ISPR? The ones who formulate the policy should also take the responsibility too :)
48 countries is a very specific number. What is its significance? Ideas, anyone?
Full trust in Ch. Nisar, zero faith in Ishaq Dar. Sorry but Dar has always proved to be extra dovish on critical issues.
Sitting in the PM house, wastage of electricity and nothing else...
@Hina: There is no argument. He has just thrown some random unrelated things for the "geniuses" to solve the riddle. Interestingly one genius got his point, and has already highly recommended these pearls of wisdom.
A necessary meeting at this point in time -- everyone should have input - everyone should be informed of the consequences of their decisions - everyone should feel they have ownership. No one should feel they have the right to torpedo the process or threaten violence if their opinion doesn't carry the majority.
Do anyone Think Yusuf Raza is in Pakistan Govt. to Protect Pakistan? If someone really wants to live in fools Paradise then Please answer the following questions.
1) Did not he support NRO and Accepted and voted For a President Who came to Power after Negotiating NRO with the Dictator whom he blame for his wife's death?
2) What NRO means in reality? Does it not mean = I am corrupt. I robbed the Pakistan wealth and done other corruption. But Pardon me under NRO and I will do whatever you want me to do against Pakistan and its people. But safeguard my swiss accounts and offshore wealth and I will do in return Whatever you will ask me to do , My Master.??????
3) Is this PM and his son are not involved in Hajj Corruption?
4) Is Zardari not convited of Swiss Money laundering?
5) Was Not Millions of dollars Surray Palace of Asif Zardari which he denied and then accepted ? where that Money came from and why he did not pay taxes on it?
6) Is not Yusuf Raza Humiliating and defying Supreme court for Asif Zardari's Swiss Money? And If yes then Is he sincere with Pakistan and it's resources?
7) How Much Tax he filed last year and before?
@Ali Zaidi: i m dumb enough to understand could explain it :p
Advocating his master!!
Just look at the three events and the timings:
1) Gilani visiting his master. 2) Violence in Karachi 3) KSE stock at 4 years high.
For the intelligent to understand and interpret
The country is falling apart and our leader is worried about US policy (read : US's needs that we have to fulfil). What about a Policy for the Pakistani people ? Don't they matter ??
What was the outcome of the meeting?
Are we going to protect Pakistan this time?
Or we are going to toe the old guide lines?
In any case, the bottom line should be Pakistan, where Pakistan or Pakistanis should not be hurt under any circumstances.
Why PML-N is doing all these flip flops? Only to raise their price, our just to feel important? First they agreed, then refused, and then going to agree again.