Senator Raza Rabbani. PHOTO: EXPRESS
The government must clarify its foreign policy in view of recent events, Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) said, seeking answers to many questions regarding certain ‘unclear’ actions.
In a senate meeting on Tuesday, PPP parliamentary leader Mian Raza Rabbani alleged that the government had neither clarified nor had it taken the Upper House in confidence with regards to its foreign policy.
Rabbani raised 52 queries, among which he questioned the motive of US Secretary of Defence Chuck Hagel’s visit to Pakistan. Allegations of threats of a delay in outstanding payments to Pakistan following a blockade of Nato supplies needed clarification, according to the senator. He also criticised the government’s lack of response to the Nato supply line blockade, saying this could be construed as tacit approval.
Queried the senator: Did the prime minister raise the issue of drones during his trip to Washington in October and, if so, what response did he receive?
He also asked about progress on any talks with the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) or other militants and requested clarification on which groups the government would be talking to, as well as the government’s stance on the groups’ demands, such as the imposition of the sharia rule, the release of TTP prisoners, the pull-out of security forces from tribal areas and the end of drone attacks.
Questions were also raised about the result of Afghan President Hamid Karzai’s visit to Pakistan and the prime minister’s visit to Kabul earlier this month.
Rabbani also queried about the government’s position on the Iran-Pakistan gas pipeline project. He inquired about the motives behind an escalating violation of the LoC by India and asked what India’s response was to maintaining a LOC ceasefire.
The senator asked if the formation of the National Security Council (NSC) negated the Charter of Democracy.
He also asked if the NSC is answerable to parliament and is it a continuation of the NSC formed by General (retd) Pervez Musharraf.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 13th, 2013.
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