The new divide: Conflicting arguments in National Assembly over Yemen imbroglio
MPs think aloud merits and dangers associated with military support to Saudi Arabia
MPs think aloud merits and dangers associated with military support to Saudi Arabia. PHOTO: APP
ISLAMABAD:
The debate on Pakistan’s role in the Yemen conflict witnessed a new phase on Thursday as divided opinion of MPs prompted some to wonder what the Saudis be thinking of the Pakistani lawmakers’ split judgment.
It was Senator Rehman Malik of the PPP who mentioned that while a joint session of parliament was convened to craft Pakistan’s possible policy vis-à-vis the Yemen crisis, we were sending mixed signals to the Saudis that a parliament consisting of 450 MPs still stood divided on the issue.
There should be a decisive meeting otherwise a message would go out that no Pakistani leader except Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif is supporting Saudi Arabia, said Sheikh Rashid Ahmed who had to face a lot of criticism from opposition benches for his support to PTI during its anti-government campaign.
Tender an apology, only then you can address this house, was the demand of government members who, at some points, made it difficult for Ahmed to speak despite intervention of the Speaker.
Before Rehman, who was the second last speaker of the day, the house witnessed wide-ranging speeches in which MPs had referred to indecisiveness of the government and other internal issues.
However many felt that a diplomatic intervention was the best option in the Yemen crisis. Aftab Ahmed Sherpao said that our armies were too busy on Eastern and Western frontiers. He said diplomatic intervention was the best way forward.
Achakzai gave the historical perspective of the Yemen conflict and said that it seemed that the world map was again being redrawn. He said that Pakistan should play a role with the help of Turkey to address issues between Iran and Saudi Arabia.
Achakzai also regretted that no action was taken against those who had attacked parliament by terming it a weakness of the government.
Among others who supported joining the Saudi-led coalition, Senator Professor Sajid Mir of PML-N said that the kingdom had always supported Pakistan and it was the payback time. He said if the US can take steps thousands of miles away in Afghanistan and Iraq in its defence, then Saudi Arabia had every right to defend itself. He said that the argument that Pakistan wanted to support the Saudi King was academic and artificial at best.
Senator Nauman Wazir of PTI slammed the government as he pointed towards empty treasury benches. He also highlighted that the Foreign Minister instead of Defence Minister should have briefed the house as the decision of going into war had not been taken as yet. He further suggested the issue was currently not of Shia-Sunni dimension as was being widely portrayed. However, in the coming years it might develop into one.
Awais Laghari of PML-N defended the policies of the government and said that Pakistan would defend the kingdom of Saudi Arabia regardless of the fact who its rulers were.
Laghari went on to say that Pakistan should play a conciliatory role between Saudi Arabia and Iran but are we in a position to ask them not to send money to Shias and Sunnis in our country because religion has become a business for some.
Published in The Express Tribune, April 10th, 2015.
The debate on Pakistan’s role in the Yemen conflict witnessed a new phase on Thursday as divided opinion of MPs prompted some to wonder what the Saudis be thinking of the Pakistani lawmakers’ split judgment.
It was Senator Rehman Malik of the PPP who mentioned that while a joint session of parliament was convened to craft Pakistan’s possible policy vis-à-vis the Yemen crisis, we were sending mixed signals to the Saudis that a parliament consisting of 450 MPs still stood divided on the issue.
There should be a decisive meeting otherwise a message would go out that no Pakistani leader except Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif is supporting Saudi Arabia, said Sheikh Rashid Ahmed who had to face a lot of criticism from opposition benches for his support to PTI during its anti-government campaign.
Tender an apology, only then you can address this house, was the demand of government members who, at some points, made it difficult for Ahmed to speak despite intervention of the Speaker.
Before Rehman, who was the second last speaker of the day, the house witnessed wide-ranging speeches in which MPs had referred to indecisiveness of the government and other internal issues.
However many felt that a diplomatic intervention was the best option in the Yemen crisis. Aftab Ahmed Sherpao said that our armies were too busy on Eastern and Western frontiers. He said diplomatic intervention was the best way forward.
Achakzai gave the historical perspective of the Yemen conflict and said that it seemed that the world map was again being redrawn. He said that Pakistan should play a role with the help of Turkey to address issues between Iran and Saudi Arabia.
Achakzai also regretted that no action was taken against those who had attacked parliament by terming it a weakness of the government.
Among others who supported joining the Saudi-led coalition, Senator Professor Sajid Mir of PML-N said that the kingdom had always supported Pakistan and it was the payback time. He said if the US can take steps thousands of miles away in Afghanistan and Iraq in its defence, then Saudi Arabia had every right to defend itself. He said that the argument that Pakistan wanted to support the Saudi King was academic and artificial at best.
Senator Nauman Wazir of PTI slammed the government as he pointed towards empty treasury benches. He also highlighted that the Foreign Minister instead of Defence Minister should have briefed the house as the decision of going into war had not been taken as yet. He further suggested the issue was currently not of Shia-Sunni dimension as was being widely portrayed. However, in the coming years it might develop into one.
Awais Laghari of PML-N defended the policies of the government and said that Pakistan would defend the kingdom of Saudi Arabia regardless of the fact who its rulers were.
Laghari went on to say that Pakistan should play a conciliatory role between Saudi Arabia and Iran but are we in a position to ask them not to send money to Shias and Sunnis in our country because religion has become a business for some.
Published in The Express Tribune, April 10th, 2015.