ISLAMABAD, Pakistan: The joint session
of the Parliament is continuing in Islamabad on Monday to discuss Yemen conflict and develop consensus strategy on the issue.
In his address at the session, the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) senior leader and the Leader of the Opposition in the Senate Chaudhry Aitzaz Ahsan demanded of the federal government to clarify its priorities and commitments if made with Saudi Arabia.
The opposition leader said that Saudi Arabia is very dear to every Pakistani and no one can entertain idea of any threat to its territorial integrity.
However, he said the government should clearly explain its policy and proposed strategy so that the House gives it the necessary mandate for the purpose.
The PPP senior leader said that it should be made clear as to what will constitute a violation of Saudi territorial integrity and what exactly would be the response of Pakistan. He said that whether we will send our troops, aircraft and naval vessels as requested by Saudi Arabia and what would be their mandate.
Aitzaz Ahsan also proposed that Pakistan should play a key role for ceasefire between warring parties and peaceful resolution of the crisis through dialogue.
In his speech, the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) Chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman said that Pakistan is a country with leadership capabilities in the Islamic World and Muslim Ummah has rightly some expectations from Pakistan.
The JUI-F leader said that it augurs well that the government has convened joint session of the Parliament for national debate on this sensitive issue. He was also of the view that crisis in Yemen was part of the European economic war against Asia.
Earlier, the Parliament resumed its proceedings at 5:00 pm to discuss Pakistan’s role in the escalating conflict in Yemen with Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif also present in the House.
While giving a policy statement at the joint sitting of the Parliament on Monday morning, the Federal Finance Minister Khawaja Asif said that Pakistan wants peaceful solution of the Yemen crisis through political and diplomatic means.
The minister reaffirmed Pakistan’s pledge to defence Saudi Arabia’s territorial integrity and sovereignty at all costs.
The defence minister apprised the Parliamentarians of the latest situation in Yemen besides Pakistan’s efforts to resolve the crisis peacefully.
High-level meeting reviews situation in Middle East
Prior to the resumption of Parliamentary proceedings, a high-level meeting was held in Islamabad to discuss matters pertaining to national security and situation in the Middle East.
The meeting was presided over by the prime minister while it was attended by the Defence Minister, the FINANCE Minister Ishaq Dar, the Prime Minister’s Adviser on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz, the Prime Minister’s Special Assistant Tariq Fatemi, the Foreign Secretary Aizaz Chaudhry and the services chiefs.
