Unanimous statement: Lawmakers slam Indian vitriol

Warn that Delhi’s campaign can stall regional peace prospects and dent Islamabad’s anti-terror drive

ISLAMABAD:

Pakistani lawmakers passed unanimous resolutions on Thursday against the vitriolic outbursts of Indian politicians over the past week amidst warnings that the recriminations could cast a long shadow on regional peace prospects.

Separate resolutions were adopted by the Senate and the National Assembly.

Politicians on both sides of the border have been hurling a flurry of allegations back and forth ever since Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi accused Pakistan of spreading terrorism in the neighbouring country.

In its resolution, the Senate urged the international community to take note of the situation, cautioning against any fallout on regional peace prospects, sovereignty and stability.

Moved by Leader of the House Raja Zafarul Haq, it stated: “This house condemns the recent disturbing pattern of provocative and hostile statements from Indian leaders, including threatening strikes against Pakistani territory. Such crude attempts by India at trying to browbeat Pakistan are unacceptable and Pakistan rejects this hegemonic mindset.”

The house emphasised that Pakistan would never allow its territory to be violated by India under any pretext. “The Pakistan Armed Forces are fully capable of giving a befitting response to any incursion, and the Pakistani people stand shoulder-to-shoulder with their armed forces.”



The resolution also said that such statements confirmed Pakistan’s apprehensions about India’s intention to destabilise Pakistan. “At a time when the entire Pakistani nation, particularly the armed forces, is engaged in a battle against terrorism, Indian provocations are not only undermining Pakistan’s anti-terror campaign but are actually ending up aiding and abetting the terrorists fighting against Pakistan.”

Meanwhile, the National Assembly’s resolution called upon the United Nations to take notice of the provocative statements of Indian politicians.

The strong-worded resolution tabled by Finance Minister Ishaq Dar stated: “The people of Pakistan and the armed forces are fully capable of protecting the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the country and giving a befitting response to any threat from India.”

The lower house pointed out the irony in Modi’s efforts to make a case for India’s permanent membership of the UN Security Council “since India has been violating the UNSC’s long-standing resolutions on Jammu and Kashmir, as well as interfering in the internal affairs of other states, in contravention of the UN Charter”.

The resolution said Islamabad had taken serious note of Modi’s statement in Bangladesh, where he admitted that the Indian government was involved in the events of 1971 in the then East Pakistan. “Such statements confirm Pakistan’s belief about past and present Indian involvement in destabilising Pakistan.”

It added that Modi’s statements in Bangladesh were aimed at stoking hatred against Pakistan. “Attempts by India to sow the seeds of discord between the people of Pakistan and Bangladesh will not succeed.”

Budget debate

Thursday’s budget debate in the Senate was no different from the preceding days, as members from both sides of the aisle focused more on political issues than the budget.

The proceedings were more like a war of words between the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and the Pakistan Peoples Party.

Jamaat-e-Islami chief Sirajul Haq, however, tried to stay on the subject: he suggested barring public servants and those who hold important offices from running businesses. The government should also increase the tax net instead of relying on indirect taxes, he added.

Meanwhile, during the budget debate in the NA, Afzal Dhandla of the PML-N urged the government to connect Dera Ghazi Khan, Bhakkar, Layyah and Muzaffargarh through a motorway with the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor by establishing economic zones in the districts.

MNA Iftikharuddin appealed to the government to allocate more funds for the projects being executed in Chitral. He also demanded increased allocations for the Lowari Tunnel for early completion of the project.

JI’s Sahibzada Yaqoob urged the government to implement an Islamic economic system in the country. He also demanded that salaries of government employees be increased.

Shireen Mazari of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf said the government was violating the law by crossing the limit of debt-to-GDP ratio. She also criticised the government for not allocating funds to make the National Counter-Terrorism Authority operational.

Muzammil Qureshi of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement termed the budget “a bureaucratic budget in which the elected representatives have no role”.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 12^th, 2015.