The All Parties Conference (APC) will prove a founding basis for the Pakistani nation to get united on the issue of national security, defence and political analysts said on Thursday. Analyst Dr Riffat Hussain believes that the APC that gathered political leadership from across the country would forge unity amongst the nation on crucial national matters. “The APC is a part of Pakistan’s policy to show the world that the nation is united on issue of national importance,” Dr Hussain told APP.
He also stressed the need for convening meetings of parliament and its committee on national security so that a working-paper could be prepared. Dr Hussain said the US’ repeated pressure on Pakistan to “do more” in the fight against terrorism would prove counterproductive. He said whenever the US ignored Pakistan’s security concerns, it negatively affected their mutual relationship.
He said the US should realise that Pakistan was facing difficult times as an outcome of its heavy sacrifices in the war against terrorism. Lt Gen (r) Abdul Qayyum regretted that the US had been constantly mounting pressure on Pakistan to “do more” despite its immense sacrifices. He said the nation was united against the statement of Admiral Mike Mullen who accused Pakistan’s intelligence agency of supporting a terrorist network.
Snippets from the APC
ISLAMABAD – The political leaders were received by a group of leaders from the Pakistan People’s Party including Syed Khurshid Shah, Qamar Zaman Kaira, Nazar Mohammad Gondal, and Raja Parvaiz Ashraf while PPP Secretary General Jahangir Badar greeted all the participants on behalf of the PPP – giving an impression as if the APC was convened by the PPP and not the government.
*Upon arrival at the Prime Minister’s House, Chief of Army Staff General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani shook hands with all politicians and exchanged smiles with PML-N chief Nawaz Sharif.
*ISI DG General Ahmed Shuja Pasha was seen engaged in a serious discussion with ANP President Asfandyar Wali Khan and PkMAP chief Mahmood Khan Achakzai. The group was later joined in by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf chief Imran Khan.
*Prior to the APC, Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani had a brief informal meeting with Nawaz Sharif and briefly exchanged views with him.
*Prime Minister Gilani had made an interesting seat arrangements for the APC as on his right side, PML-N President Nawaz Sharif was sitting while on his left was seated PML-Q President Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain – both are now bitter foes in the political field. Next to Nawaz was Haider Abbas Rizvi of the MQM – another PML-N adversary while next to Shujaat, Asfandyar Wali Khan was sitting – both the parties also have bitterness on Hazara Province.
*During the APC proceedings, JUI-F Ameer Fazlur Rehman fell ill and left the meeting halfway. Later, he told the media that doctors had advised him not to engage in discussions for too long as he was suffering from some cardiac problem. “I presented my views in the meeting and left as I was not feeling well,” he added.
*Two nationalist parties of Balochistan, the Balochistan National Party-Mengal (BNP-M) and the National Party (NP) had a change of heart at the eleventh hour and decided to boycott the All Parties Conference though earlier the leaders of both parties had conveyed confirmation to the Prime Minister’s House.
*The Jamiat Ahle Hadith was not invited to the APC. Allama Sajid Mir, Ameer Jamiat Ahle Hadith said the government had ignored his party to please someone. Staff Report
