Senators for joint session of Parliament

ISLAMABAD - Leader of House in the Senate Mian Raza Rabbani Tuesday said that civil and military leadership would not tolerate violation of the country's sovereignty and territorial integrity. While speaking on a point of order, raised by Leader of the Opposition in the Senate, Senator Kamil Ali Agha, Rabbani said that Pakistan would retaliate in befitting manner if war was imposed on it. "Pakistan will give matching response if India carries out surgical strikes inside Pakistan's territory", he said. He also said that India had not shared any evidence with Pakistan despite the government's offer of joint investigation of the Mumbai carnage. He further added that no person would be handed over to India or the US and if any firm evidences were given against the suspects, they would be tried under the country's law. He also stated that Pakistan has no aggressive designs against any nation of the world but it would ensure its sovereignty at all costs. He said that India wants to establish its supremacy in the region through limited war, but nation is united against the enemy. He also said Pakistan's efforts for peace in the region should not be taken as its weakness. Replying to another point of order, Leader of the House said that Interpol's Secretary General Ronald Noble is on his annual visit to Pakistan, which has no link with the Mumbai attacks. Regarding the rehabilitation of earthquake affected people in Balochistan, Rabbani said that relief operation is in full swing. He also informed that 6,000 to 7,000 shelters would be ready by January 15. He said federal government has directed Chief Secretary Balochistan not to tolerate any negligence in the rehabilitation work. He further said that missing persons of Balochistan are being recovered and a meeting, under the chair of Advisor to the Prime Minister on Interior Rehman Malik, would be held soon in this respect. Earlier, Opposition Leader in the Senate Kamil Ali Agha, on a point of order, said that US is interfering in internal affairs of the country. He also demanded expulsion of the US citizens from the country, alleging that US is mounting pressure on Pakistan after Mumbai attacks. He also alleged that Chairman US Joint Chiefs of Staff Admiral Mike Mullen had asked Pakistan to allow India to carry out surgical strikes inside Pakistan. He said nation would stand by its armed forces against any aggression. He also criticized the drone attacks saying that the US had breached international law. He also urged the government to retaliate to the US drone attacks. Senator Pari Gul Agha criticized PTV for not giving proper coverage to the opposition leaders. Chairman Senate Mohammadmian Soomro, however, directed the Leader of the House to ensure proper coverage of the opposition leaders. Rabbani assured the Chairman that he would talk to the concerned authorities on the matter. Senator Abdur Rahim Mandokhel initiated debate on national security on the second day of the debate. He urged the government to improve law and order situation in the country and take effective measures to end militancy from the country. He deplored that Pakistani citizens do not feel safe and secure in any part of the country as they feel the government itself is deteriorating security situation in the country. Senator Semi Siddiqui drew attention of the House to the media report that China had not opposed the UN Security Council's resolution against Jamaat-ud-Daawa on the request of President Zardari. She urged the government to summon joint session of the Parliament and stressed for aggressive diplomatic efforts to counter Indian propaganda against Pakistan. Senator Azam Khan Swati demanded of the government to call back Hussain Haroon from UN, as, he alleged, that a welfare organization, doing praise-worthy work in country, had to face sanctions due to his incompetence. Senator Waseem Sajjad regretted over Indian attitude for involving Pakistan in each terror incident without any evidence. He said the government should ask India to furnish names of even those suspects who were killed in the Mumbai carnage. "If Ajmal Kasab is involved in the attack, he must know the names of his other companions", he said. India is concealing the real culprits involved in the Mumbai attack, he alleged. He said India's objective is to weaken ISI, create divisions in the ranks of Pakistani nation and destabilize the country's economy with threats of war. He further said that India wants to prove peaceful struggle of Kashmiri people as terrorism and this way trying to achieve it goals without having war. Senator Babar Ghauri said that government should put its house in order and take action against religious militants. He said that secret services of the country are busy protecting politicians and terrorists are operating without any check. At the end of the session, Federal Minister for Water and Power Raja Pervez Ashraf admitted that loadshedding is still going on throughout the country as WAPDA is facing shortage of 3500 megawatts because water is not being released from Tarbela and Mangla dams due to silt in waterways and canals of the country. He also informed that Attock Oil Refinery had added 150 megawatts of electricity to the system and hoped that loadshedding would end by December of the next year.

The writer is a member of staff and can be reached at khalidaziz100@gmail.com

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