Political leaders from all major political parties of the country on Saturday strongly condemned the tabling of a draft bill in the US House of Representatives on Balochistan, which called upon Pakistan to recognise the right to self-determination for the people of Balochistan, calling it a tactic to interfere in the country’s internal affairs.
Rep Dana Rohrabacher (R-CA) had introduced a House Concurrent Resolution that the Baloch nation had a historic right to self-determination.
Jamaat-e-Islami chief Syed Munawar Hasan called the resolution a blatant interference in Pakistan’s internal affairs.
In a statement issued on Saturday, he said the US had come out openly against the country and it might use the UN platform to separate Balochistan from Pakistan in the manner it had done in the case of East Timor and South Sudan.
He called upon the government to review its ties with the US, end its support in the war against terrorism and devise an independent foreign policy.
Hasan said the US had turned a blind eye to India that had been carrying out state terrorism in the disputed state of Kashmir and committing gross human rights violations. Besides, he said, the US had been openly supporting Israel and was fully involved in the massacre of innocent Palestinians.
Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Secretary Information Senator Mushahidullah said the move on part of the US was a direct attack on the sovereignty of the country and it was also a violation of international laws. He demanded the government seek explanation from US ambassador to Pakistan over the matter.
Mushahidullah linked the government’s failure with the move, saying giving a guard of honour to former president Musharraf created feelings of depravation among the Baloch people, while the government also failed to fulfill its promise of Balochistan reforms package.
Senator Ismail Buledi of the JUI-F said had the government stopped the US from carrying out drone attacks, the US would not have tried to make attempts at the country’s sovereignty.
Senator Tahir Hussain Mashhadi of the MQM criticised the US move, saying it was against the diplomatic norms and violation of United Nations charter. “The US showed its power in Afghanistan, Korea, Iraq and several other countries and is now trying to aggravate the feelings of Baloch people as part of its conspiracy against the Islamic countries,” he said.
Balochistan Chief Minister Aslam Raisani also criticised the US Congress resolution on Balochistan, saying it was a sheer violation of international laws and meddling in Pakistan’s internal matters. The chief minister called the resolution “condemnable” and urged the US to bar its lawmakers and activists from passing such resolutions and activities against Pakistan. “Are the so-called champions of self-determination bothered about the people of Palestine and Kashmir?” the chief minister added.
PML-N Khyber Pakhtunkhwa lawmaker Javed Abbassi said the US bill was a blatant interference in the internal affairs of Pakistan and moved an adjournment motion against the American resolution in the provincial assembly.
