Leader of Opposition in National Assembly Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan on Tuesday demanded assurance from the treasury benches regarding implementation of the PCNS recommendations and removing reservations on certain clauses.
Speaking on a point of order before formal debate on foreign policy injoint sitting of the Parliament, he also objected at the clause allowing foreign intelligence agencies operations after transparency.
“My party would take part in formal debate if the government removes our reservations regarding some clauses,” he said.
“Our reservations regarding implementation are based on the past experiences as two joint resolutions were approved calling for end to drone attacks but never implemented.”
The opposition leader said that the clauses of the recommendation of the Parliamentary Committee on National Security (PCNS) are flawed and not agree with each others as well as with the previous approved resolution of the parliament. It talk of security, sovereignty and respect of the country but then say to allow foreigners’ agencies to operate inside the country that is contrary to what it said earlier in the clauses.
“Let alone Afghanistan and Iraq no country would allow foreign intelligence agencies to operate on their soil,” he said, adding that whether it is not contrary to the clause call for respect of sovereignty and security of the country.
He said that the issue of national security should have been discussed in very beginning but appreciated the government for initiating the debate on this important issue.
Nisar Ali Khan said that there were some useful proposals in the report but claimed some clauses were contradictory to national security and sovereignty. He said the present parliament had already passed two jointresolutions to ensure national security but they were not implemented.
Leader of Opposition said the Parliament should send a message to the entire world that Pakistanis were self-respecting nation.
He also criticized late start of the joint sitting of the parliament and asked the chair to devise a mechanism aimed at initiating proceedings on time.
He said that certain decisions were already taken and then the parliament is used as a rubber stamp.
“Let me make it clear that if our reservations were not removed and certain clauses were not altered, then we would not take part in this discussion and any decision on the resolution on the foreign policy would be considered as that of the government and not of the parliament.”
Following him Ayaz Amir said that back channel discussions and dealings should be stopped and all matters pertaining to new terms of engagement with US should be brought
to the house for open discussion and consent of the lawmakers.
Before the start of debate, the house suspended the rules of procedure and conduct of
business to initiate discussion on the Report of Parliamentary Committee on the National Security.
