Mumtaz Alvi
International News
December 24, 2008
ISLAMABAD: The Senate on Tuesday castigated India for staging a drama to implicate Pakistan in the Mumbai attacks without solid proofs, as the legislators displayed complete unanimity in their resolve to safeguard national integrity in case of any aggression from across the border.
Lawmakers from across the divide challenged New Delhi to come up with evidence, if any, of Pakistan or its citizens’ involvement in the last month’s incidents. Some saw the Indian war hysteria as a global conspiracy to disintegrate the country and a senator referred to a New York Times report in this context.
They emphasised the need for dispatching delegations to various world capitals to project the country’s stance on terrorism and its position in the post-terror scene that Pakistan was the biggest victim of terrorism.
Opposition senators decried the absence of both the foreign minister and the defence minister from the House at this critical juncture, when vital issues relating to the nation’s security in the wake of the India’s threats were being discussed.
The latest visit of Chairman of US Joint Chiefs of Staff, Admiral Mullen, to Pakistan also echoed in the House, when Leader of the Opposition Kamil Ali Agha raised the issue on a point of order immediately after recitation from the Holy Qura’an.
Citing a report, he asked the government whether it was true that the US admiral was here to exert pressure on the government to let India hit targets inside Pakistan. “The US is behind India at a time, when we say, the entire nation is united on the issue of security, then how can the Americans put pressure on Pakistan,” he wondered.
The senator wondered as to why the US ambassador was not summoned and a protest lodged on this interference and why Mullen was not sent back.
Leader of the House Mian Raza Rabbani, who usually comes to the House well-prepared to explain the governmentís position on issues raised in the Senate, asserted that Pakistan was a sovereign country and would not tolerate interference in its internal affairs.
Responding to some points the senators raised during their speeches, Rabbani made it clear that India had provided no proofs, whereas Pakistan had offered to form a joint probe commission.However, he maintained that India was engaged in a unilateral blame game, adding, even if it provided evidence, the culprits would be tried inside Pakistan according to its own laws.
The Emergency Election Sale is now live! Get 30% to 60% off our most popular products today!