On the record: K-P lawmakers call on US govt to end ‘unlawful’ drone strikes
March to the US Consulate to present memorandum against attacks.
The ministers crossed Khyber Road from the Chief Minister Secretariat to reach the consulate. PHOTO: MUHAMMAD IQBAL/EXPRESS
PESHAWAR:
In a rare show of cohesive action, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) ministers and MPAs from the ruling coalition marched to the US Consulate and presented a memorandum against drone attacks to its staff.
K-P Minister for Finance Sirajul Haq, Minister for Information Shah Farman and Minister for Agriculture Shahram Khan Tarakai led the marching lawmakers of the triumvirate on Monday to the US Consulate building, located near the Gora Qabristan intersection in Cantt.
The ministers crossed Khyber Road from the Chief Minister Secretariat to reach the consulate. There K-P senior minister Sirajul Haq presented the document, containing their demand to end drone strikes in Pakistan, to an official of the US Consulate. As Haq presented the memorandum to the official, legislators and party workers chanted slogans against the US strikes.
“The people of K-P and their government with one voice condemn the said drone strikes as indisputably unlawful, inhuman and immoral aggression against them and a war crime; and call upon the United States of America, to forthwith stop all drone strikes on this province and the tribal areas adjoining it,” reads the memorandum.
On the occasion, Haq told reporters drone attacks are a violation of Pakistan’s Constitution and the Charter of the United Nations (UN). Through the memorandum, the K-P government has demanded the US put an end to such attacks. More attacks inside Pakistan will not be tolerated; the Hangu strike was considered an attack on Peshawar and Islamabad, claimed Haq.
“A protest will also be held outside the Parliament House, the Prime Minister House, as well as UN offices in Islamabad.”
On behalf of the K-P government, Haq also urged the centres and the Taliban to initiate dialogue.
Minister for Information Shah Farman said the march to the US Consulate was the first step taken by provincial government in light of the November 4 resolution, wherein it had declared the province will follow its own course of action if the federal government failed to take steps to stop drones.
Farman said they will submit memorandums at the US Embassy and the UN office in Islamabad. They will hold a session of the provincial legislature outside the Parliament House and also hold a sit-in, shared the minister for information.
“We have made it clear to the US that we will take practical steps against drone attacks and will not rely on issuing statements like the previous government,” stated Farman.
The Minister for Agriculture Shahram Khan Tarakai said the protest was their right. Allies in the K-P government had taken the initiative and other political parties should back them.
K-P ministers Atif Khan, Ali Amin Gandapur, Inayatullah Khan, Habibur Rehman and advisers to the chief minister Mian Jamshidud Din, Yasin Khalil and other lawmakers were also present at the occasion.
Published in The Express Tribune, November 26th, 2013.
In a rare show of cohesive action, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) ministers and MPAs from the ruling coalition marched to the US Consulate and presented a memorandum against drone attacks to its staff.
K-P Minister for Finance Sirajul Haq, Minister for Information Shah Farman and Minister for Agriculture Shahram Khan Tarakai led the marching lawmakers of the triumvirate on Monday to the US Consulate building, located near the Gora Qabristan intersection in Cantt.
The ministers crossed Khyber Road from the Chief Minister Secretariat to reach the consulate. There K-P senior minister Sirajul Haq presented the document, containing their demand to end drone strikes in Pakistan, to an official of the US Consulate. As Haq presented the memorandum to the official, legislators and party workers chanted slogans against the US strikes.
“The people of K-P and their government with one voice condemn the said drone strikes as indisputably unlawful, inhuman and immoral aggression against them and a war crime; and call upon the United States of America, to forthwith stop all drone strikes on this province and the tribal areas adjoining it,” reads the memorandum.
On the occasion, Haq told reporters drone attacks are a violation of Pakistan’s Constitution and the Charter of the United Nations (UN). Through the memorandum, the K-P government has demanded the US put an end to such attacks. More attacks inside Pakistan will not be tolerated; the Hangu strike was considered an attack on Peshawar and Islamabad, claimed Haq.
“A protest will also be held outside the Parliament House, the Prime Minister House, as well as UN offices in Islamabad.”
On behalf of the K-P government, Haq also urged the centres and the Taliban to initiate dialogue.
Minister for Information Shah Farman said the march to the US Consulate was the first step taken by provincial government in light of the November 4 resolution, wherein it had declared the province will follow its own course of action if the federal government failed to take steps to stop drones.
Farman said they will submit memorandums at the US Embassy and the UN office in Islamabad. They will hold a session of the provincial legislature outside the Parliament House and also hold a sit-in, shared the minister for information.
“We have made it clear to the US that we will take practical steps against drone attacks and will not rely on issuing statements like the previous government,” stated Farman.
The Minister for Agriculture Shahram Khan Tarakai said the protest was their right. Allies in the K-P government had taken the initiative and other political parties should back them.
K-P ministers Atif Khan, Ali Amin Gandapur, Inayatullah Khan, Habibur Rehman and advisers to the chief minister Mian Jamshidud Din, Yasin Khalil and other lawmakers were also present at the occasion.
Published in The Express Tribune, November 26th, 2013.