Pakistan not to welcome any UN group in future
The Parliamentary Committee on National Security has decided that in the future no United Nations group would be allowed to visit Pakistan to discuss “sensitive issues”.
The committee took the decision on Monday at a meeting chaired by Senator Raza Rabbani. The decision came following a recent visit to Pakistan by the UN Working Group on Enforced and Involuntary Disappearances.
Senator Rabbani asked the foreign and interior ministries to abstain from welcoming international intervention in local issues, sources privy to the committee meeting told The Express Tribune.
He was happy that the UN team was not entertained by the military leadership; saying that such a meeting would have been unnecessary.
The committee had earlier expressed serious concerns over the arrival of the UN group in Pakistan. The group has been criticised for not presenting a lucid agenda.
‘No disparity’
Senator Rabbani strongly criticised the UN group for its desire to meet with military officials. Meetings with the civilian leadership should have sufficed, he added. Any meeting with the military brass was not a part of the UN group’s itinerary.
Quashing rumours of a clash of state institutions, Senator Rabbani said, “I want to dispel the impression that there are any disparities between the political and military leaderships.”
Monday’s meeting was convened by Senator Rabbani to shape up recommendations over missing persons and have a detailed briefing from the Foreign Office and interior ministry over the UN group’s visit.
In its last meeting the parliamentary committee had summoned Interior Minister Rehman Malik and Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar for a briefing on the UN group’s visit. The two ministers, however, did not show up.
Senator Rabbani said the committee would finalise its recommendations over the recovery of missing persons in its next meeting slated for the third week of October.
Published in The Express Tribune, September 25th, 2012.
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the difference between kashmeer valley and philisteen on one hand and pakistan as a whole is this. in case of kashmeer valley and philisteen despite the anarchy and disatisfaction the population is increasing, infact more than doubled in past 60 years. of course that does not apply to kashmiri pundits. and if we were to go into it further, the populace of jammu and that of laddakh does not want to have anything to do with the separatism except oppose it tooth and nail. in case of pakistan, 60 years back the minorities made anything between 25 to 30 percent of the population. hindus and sikhs comprised nothing less than 16 percent and that is the most conservative estimate. today they are less than 2 percent. where did they go? doesn't darfur ring a bell here? may be not, more in line with tibet but there too such dramatic change in just half a century hasn't occured. now for a zealot and a bigot these may be a matter of pride, or something to ignore or deny but a muslim not merely in name but deed too will hang his head in shame. the promise he makes allah that all of allah's subject are brethrens, the weaker and their interest will be protected at any cost is not merely broken, it is trampled upon and butchered. a believer is not interested in scoring brownie points against other humans. he is answerable only to one almighty. and his preoccupation is how will he answer, will by counting others follies lessen his own sins. point to ponder, ain't it?United Nations’ Working Group on Enforced and Involuntary Disappearances
They want to hide their criminal activities ,It is simple .
The Parliamentary Committee on National Security has decided that in the future no United Nations group would be allowed to visit Pakistan to discuss “sensitive issues”.
on the other side,you want UN to visit Kashmir,you want them to put pressure on Indian military to withdraw from Kashmir,and on top of all,you want a plebiscite in Kashmir to be conducted by those whom you no longer trust or don't want them your own country, truly amazing! as the days pass by, the case of Kashmir is turning more and more in favor of India.
@Aijaz Haider:
You have tried to rebut and criticize many readers as evident from the large number of criticism of others you have posted on the ET site. If I may comment, you are confusing the basic issues in question. Kashmir is no longer the issue at the UN because the 1972 Shimla agreement, signed between India and Pakistan, supersedes the UN resolution which, by the way, has become redundant, as any law professor will tell you. Kashmir is, at best, the dead horse which Pakistan likes to whip now and then for domestic political reasons. You are also, incorrectly, comparing the USA and Pakistan when you urge the UN delegation to charge the USA on account of the recent flare up sparked by the anti-Islam film. The US Government, as repeatedly mentioned by the US, has nothing to do with the making of the film. It has unequivocalyy condemned the film which is in bad taste. The violent reaction in Pakistan was also condemned not only by the USA but by many countries in the world, if you care to read the international media. The US does not have any official persecution policy. It does not torture or kill its own people but Pakistan has a history of systematically trying to subjugate, persecute or even "make people disappear", particularly in Sindh, Baluchistan, etc. That is the crux of the problem which the UN delegation wanted to address with the appropriate interlocutors. Pakistan,. as a member of the UN, is obliged to allow UN representatives to meet with minorities and others who suffer endlessly at the hands of the majority. The recent cases of forcible conversions and marriage of Hindu minor girls or the fradulently concocted blasphemy case against a 11 year old mentally-challenged Christian girl reveal the serious hardships and persecution faced by religious minorities. These issues should also be raised at the UN. People hope that the US will spearhead such an initiative to bring the matter at the UN.
@IZ: "So we don’t want the UN to interfere in our internal affairs but we want the UN to interfere in the internal affairs of every other countries by forcing them to outlaw blasphemy? Hypocrisy much?". Not at all. Blasphemy is hurting not just Pakistanis but all Muslims and non Muslims who respect and love the prophets. It is an international, global and multi-religion issue, not just a Pakistan or Muslim issue. There is no comparison between the issue of "Enforced and Involuntary Disappearances" and the issue of blasphemy. This is not hypocrisy. Please weigh the two issues in view of the reactions to them. Regards.
@Ali Abbasi: Mr.Ali Abbasi, the heading or title is misleading, My unerstanding is that Rabbani will not welcome UN groups wanting to discuss "local sensitive issues". The word "any" n e heading is misleading. The author Sumera Khan should clarify this. Regards.
@Farzund Ali: Kashmir is a sensitive issue and we should not abandon UN on the Kashmir issue. The keyword here are "sensitive + local" issues. Kashmir is an "intenational + sensitive" issue. I hope you get my point. Regards.
@Fugitive: Yes, the mistakes of General Pervez Musharraf. Regards.
@bangash: This will NOT damage Pakistan’s stand on Kashmir issue, because the Kashmir issue is a "international" issue and Mr.Rabbani is talking about "local" issues. "Bunch of fools", your perception, is not correct. The ruling coaliton has not done much for the people, but, it has convincingly shown that the weakest democratic regime is by far more bold than than the strongest military dictator's (Pervez Musharaf's) regime, in withstanding international, un-called-for pressure and intervention. This achievement alone is a giant step in discouraging future military intervention in Pakistan's fragile democratic process.The "Bunch of fools" is not so foolish, it has brainpower, not brawnpower. Regards.
@Ulrike from Germany: The UN must also have the right to meet the Government of United States and find out the reasons behind re-occurring incidents of blashphemy against prophets and why Dr.Aaafia Siddiqui was sentenced for 86 years. Is the sentence justified and in acordance with Human Rights requirements. The report o Stanford and New York on drone strikes in Pakistan says only 2% killed are militants and 98% killed are innocent men, women and children. Did the UN sed a delegation to the US to investigate the drone issue? The US is also a member of the UN and – more important in this connection – a signatory state of the UN Human Rights Declaration. You have also forgotten? Germans have a very good memory, how could you forget or overlook this violation of human rights by the US Government?
This will damage Pakistan's stand on Kashmir issue where it depends on UN resolutions. Bunch of fools running the country.
@Farzund Ali: Kashmir is an international issue and not an internal/local sensitive one,which he has aptly pointed out as should not be allowed to be discussed with them.So no comparison !
Besides,it has been observed from past dealings of the UN=UNfair organization that it's role has been suspiciously not at all impartial nor independent and has been more subservient to the agenda's/interest of a super power.
@Majaa:"rest of the world" includes our Arab brothers, in fact, in fact everybody on planet earth. Please read my comment again. Thanks & Regards.
@Aijaz Haider: Hadar Sahib, sure agree with your list,but you omitted our ARAB BROTHERS.
Good! Don't welcome intervention by the US, UN, UK, and the rest of the world
Senator shaib, your country is member of the UN and - more important in this connection - a signatory state of the UN Human Rights Declaration. Already forgotten? Therefor the UN has every right to meet the Government of Pakistan and its institutions to examine the state of human rights in Pakistan.
Yes, we as a nation need to learn the meaning of "sovereignty" which we have lost in oblivion. Instead of strengthening our own institutions we are relying on others who are smelling our wounds and busy in finding faults in us. The minister should also review the decision of his government to invite the UN for Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto murder investigations and may tender apology to the nation for huge national spending on that wasteful interrogation which only served the interests of "foreign intruders" to poke into our national affairs. Present thought of Mr. Rabbani is commendable however, we must avoid repetition our mistakes.
All of the above statements/comments will change - if someone from their own family member disappeared in the name of National Security. Zara soochoo!!!
Who known what's in future. This indicate govt invited them
UN cant come un invited, so there are some internal elements that wish to make internal matters as international one! They should invite them to visit Kashmir and Palestine for human rights violations too.
So we don't want the UN to interfere in our internal affairs but we want the UN to interfere in the internal affairs of every other countries by forcing them to outlaw blasphemy? Hypocrisy much?
Extending Invitation to UN working group seems to be a conspiracy against the Pakistan Army. This issue must be investigated to identify the motive and the individuals behind this extremely suspicious episode.
Ha ha ha ha. Shakespeare has rightly said,
"If you wrong me, do i not cry."
The real ugly face of Raza Rabbani has been vindicated. Balouch and Sindhi's have got no prosperous future in Pakistan.
They will be killed and thrown into streets accordingly.
Why? Have you got something to hide?
Why be part of the UN if their bodies are not to be allowed in the country?
Why this group is not visiting Kashmir and Phalistene
I thought they were here on the invitation of the Pakistani Government. Just don't invite them anymore. Nothing to do with not allowing. Stop also inviting the rest of the UN family and also ask all the rest of the crowd in the same business to leave, then I guess you have peace. It saves Pakistan a lot of huge and extravagant shopping missions to attend all these international meetings.
WELL DONE, Minister- we cannot afford to let the world know about this!
Isnnt Kashmir a sensitive issue too? Should we abandon UN on that too? The government and establishments attitude leaves no doubt in mind as to who is on the wrong side here.
Well spoken