Staking claim: PML-Likeminded threatens to spoil unanimity

Breakaway faction of PML-Q demands representation in the PCNS.

ISLAMABAD:

Already busy assuaging the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), the government has another parliamentary group threatening to sabotage the much sought after unanimity in the review of ties with the US. 

A breakaway faction of the PML-Quaid (PML-Q) has written letters to Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani, Speaker National Assembly Fehmida Mirza as well as chairman of the Parliamentary Committee on National Security (PCNS) Raza Rabbani to express concern about what they term to be a lack of representation in the matter.

“Our party has five members of the National Assembly but unfortunately we have no representation in the Parliamentary Committee on National Security,” said Kashmala Tariq, the information secretary of the group, which calls itself the PML Likeminded. “If our party was ignored then the government would face a strong opposition over parliamentary resolution regarding Pak-US ties,” she added.

Giving details of the letter, Kashmala said that her party would strongly oppose any parliamentary resolution regarding the resumption of Nato supplies, and had demanded an immediate ceasing of drone attacks. After the Salala check post incident, nine drone attacks had been carried out, she recalled.

Kashmala justified her party’s demand for a representation in the PCNS and accused both the government and opposition of collaborating to further their personal interests.

She said that, keeping in view Pakistan’s major problems, the US should pay off the energy sector’s circular debt, resolve the country’s electricity problems and help stop the Railways’ and PIA’s decay. She highlighted that the US had given $33 billion to Turkey only for using its space during the Iraq war.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 4^th, 2012.