Yemen conflict: Religious party demands govt support for Saudi Arabia

PESHAWAR:

Religio-political parties in the country continue to speak out against the Parliament’s unanimous resolution which declared Pakistan would stay out of the Saudi-Yemen conflict.

Reaffirming his party’s support for Saudi Arabia, Jamaatud Dawa (JuD) chief Hafiz Muhammad Saeed expressed reservations over the resolution on Sunday and demanded its revision. JuD is known for its active links with a proscribed organisation.

“The government must declare support for Saudi Arabia in its war against the Houthi rebels in Yemen,” said Saeed while addressing a gathering at Fawara Chowk. JI provincial ameer Professor Ibrahim, special assistant to the CM Arif Yousaf, Awami National Party K-P Senior Vice President Aqeel Shah, along with central JuD leaders attended the gathering.

Saeed said Saudi Arabia supported Pakistan as it strived to become a nuclear power and also opposed sanctions imposed on it after the May 28, 1998 nuclear tests. He urged parliamentarians to announce their unconditional support for Saudi Arabia.

The JuD chief claimed the resolution was passed in a hurry because political parties had not been made aware of the gravity of the situation and that responsibility rests with Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 20^th, 2015.