'Shocked' Imran accuses PML-N of 'covertly supporting US drone attacks'
Imran responds to Nawaz's statement saying govt is not concerned with isolation' but with 'assets stashed abroad'.
Khan responds to PM's statement saying govt is actually concerned not with isolation' but the 'assets stashed abroad'. PHOTO: FILE
Opposition party, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf's (PTI) chairman Imran Khan expressed "shock and disappointment" over a statement attributed to Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif which allegedly suggested that PTI’s drone protest was isolating Pakistan.
In a press statement issued on Saturday, Imran reminded Nawaz that PML-N, along with the PPP had not only been a party to the Parliamentary resolutions (present and previous) against drones but also party to the anti-drone resolution in the Khyber-Pukhtunkhwa provincial assembly.
"In these resolutions the blockade of NATO supplies was specifically mentioned," the statement said.
"In addition, the PML-N convened the APC in which its government was given the mandate of commencing dialogue and ending drone strikes by the US in Pakistan."
The PTI chief pointed out that when he had asked the premier in the APC what would happen if the US sabotaged the peace process with a drone attack, he was assured that the government would take up the issue not only with the US but would also go to the UN.
The PML-N government has so far neither taken up the issue forcefully with the US nor moved the UNSC under Chapter VII where binding action is decided against aggression, Imran claimed.
Unfortunately, the PTI chief asserted, the PML-N is following the PPP’s duplicity on drones and deceiving the public by covertly supporting the US drone attacks.
Zardari’s speech on Friday also revealed the 'muk muka' (connivance) between the PPP and PML-N as both seek to protect their particularistic interests, especially financial ones lying overseas, Imran alleged.
The PTI chief pointed out that it is not “isolation” the PML-N and PPP are worried about but the security of their assets stashed abroad.
Imran said that leaders who keep their assets overseas cannot be expected to safeguard the interests of their people and secure their country’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.
"PTI is committed to continuing its blockade of NATO supplies until the federal government gets a solid assurance from the US of an end to drone strikes.
"It is a matter of reasserting the nation’s sovereign dignity and self respect – without which no other nation will respect us. No nation is isolated because it asserts its right to its sovereignty, dignity and self respect."
The statement cited India's recent example of how sovereign nations must behave:
"A clear example of this is right in our neighbourhood where India asserted its sovereignty and became one of only three countries that opposed the passage of the CTBT resolution in the UNGA (Bhutan and Libya being the other two countries) in September 1996, yet no one said India was isolated."
"Pakistan is not isolated at all because of PTI’s opposition to drone attacks. In fact it is the US that is isolated on drone attacks including at the UN."
In a press statement issued on Saturday, Imran reminded Nawaz that PML-N, along with the PPP had not only been a party to the Parliamentary resolutions (present and previous) against drones but also party to the anti-drone resolution in the Khyber-Pukhtunkhwa provincial assembly.
"In these resolutions the blockade of NATO supplies was specifically mentioned," the statement said.
"In addition, the PML-N convened the APC in which its government was given the mandate of commencing dialogue and ending drone strikes by the US in Pakistan."
The PTI chief pointed out that when he had asked the premier in the APC what would happen if the US sabotaged the peace process with a drone attack, he was assured that the government would take up the issue not only with the US but would also go to the UN.
The PML-N government has so far neither taken up the issue forcefully with the US nor moved the UNSC under Chapter VII where binding action is decided against aggression, Imran claimed.
Unfortunately, the PTI chief asserted, the PML-N is following the PPP’s duplicity on drones and deceiving the public by covertly supporting the US drone attacks.
Zardari’s speech on Friday also revealed the 'muk muka' (connivance) between the PPP and PML-N as both seek to protect their particularistic interests, especially financial ones lying overseas, Imran alleged.
The PTI chief pointed out that it is not “isolation” the PML-N and PPP are worried about but the security of their assets stashed abroad.
Imran said that leaders who keep their assets overseas cannot be expected to safeguard the interests of their people and secure their country’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.
"PTI is committed to continuing its blockade of NATO supplies until the federal government gets a solid assurance from the US of an end to drone strikes.
"It is a matter of reasserting the nation’s sovereign dignity and self respect – without which no other nation will respect us. No nation is isolated because it asserts its right to its sovereignty, dignity and self respect."
The statement cited India's recent example of how sovereign nations must behave:
"A clear example of this is right in our neighbourhood where India asserted its sovereignty and became one of only three countries that opposed the passage of the CTBT resolution in the UNGA (Bhutan and Libya being the other two countries) in September 1996, yet no one said India was isolated."
"Pakistan is not isolated at all because of PTI’s opposition to drone attacks. In fact it is the US that is isolated on drone attacks including at the UN."