Opp pushes govt to open up on Yemen

While the debate over sending troops to Saudi Arabia gained heat on Sunday in wake of the conflict in Yemen, many top politicians of the country urged Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to convene an All Parties Conference (APC) to help evolve consensus over the question.

The proposal of convening an APC was initially floated by Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) senior leader Syed Khurshid Shah which was endorsed by other politicians, including Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) chief Fazlur Rehman, Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) chief Sirajul Haq, JUI-F leader Abdul Ghafoor Haideri and others.

Later in the day, Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) chief Altaf Hussain also joined the chorus, calling for convening an APC to decide the future course.

However, the prime minister has yet not made up his mind to take up the matter with the political leadership.

“The prime minister has yet to make up his mind over the proposal of convening an APC,” an official in the federal government told Pakistan Today.

The prime minister has already got political support from PPP Co-Chairman Asif Ali Zardari who said that his party would fully back the government’s decision to join the allied alliance by sending troops to protect the territorial integrity of Saudi Arabia.

However, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan warned the government against sending troops to Saudi Arabia, urging the country’s political and military leadership to stay away from the conflict and rather play the role of a mediator between the two Muslim nations.

Khan warned the prime minister of a “severe backlash” in our own region, especially in Pakistan if the government sent troops to Saudi Arabia.

“If Pakistan plays any role in the Saudi war on Yemen, Houthi militia may attack Pakistani expatriates inside Yemen,” he added.

Moreover, the political leadership will decide on the visit of delegation led by Defence Minister Khawaja Asif to Saudi Arabia today (Monday). The delegation’s visit that was scheduled last week was postponed due to the Arab League’s meeting on the Yemen situation, MOFA officials confirmed.

The delegation will also be accompanied by Prime Minister’s Adviser on National Security and Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz and some army officers would meet King Salman, Saudi foreign minister and defence minister as well as other officials.

After having consultation with Saudi officials and assessing the situation, the delegation would return to Islamabad for final suggestions.

FRIGATE LEAVES FOR EDEN:

Meanwhile, the government made its intentions clear by sending a frigate to the Red Sea, claiming that the ship, along with helicopters and fighter jets, to help the efforts to evacuate the Pakistani expatriates stranded in Eden – the city of Yemen at the heart of conflict.

A well-placed source informed Pakistan Today that the frigate was equipped with modern weapons and even if the evacuation goes according to its plan, the frigate would stay in the international waters in the Red Sea near Eden.

“If the government decides to play any role in the conflict, the frigate may immediately act on the government’s orders,” the official said.

Confirming the development, Foreign Office spokesperson Tasnim Aslam said that a navy ship is on its way to Eden and the government had contacted Chinese officials there to seek their help in the evacuation of Pakistanis stranded there.

“Fighting is going on in Eden city where 150 to 200 people are stranded,” she said on a social media website. “The Eden airport is not accessible, but the city’s port is free,” she added.

Aslam added that the situation is peaceful in Moqalla city, where 150 to 250 persons are stranded. The spokesperson further said 150 Pakistanis will travel to Moqallaa from Eden by road. “A plane will go to Moqallaa on Tuesday to bring Moqallaa and Eden evacuees,” she added.

When contacted, an official in the Defence Ministry also confirmed that a frigate had been sent for Eden.

“The navy vessel has been sent as a precautionary measure if the evacuation through Moqallaa faces any disruption,” the official added.

POLITICIANS WANT APC:

In the meanwhile, Khursheed Shah has called upon Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to take Parliament into confidence over Yemen issue.

Speaking to media in Sukkur, Khursheed Shah said, “If we can hold All Parties Conference on other issues why it can’t be held over Saudi-Yemen matter?” He said although Pakistan and Saudi Arabia enjoy brotherly relations but the former itself is in state of war.

Moreover, JI chief Sirajul Haq said that a conflict in the Middle East and Gulf will only be of benefit for the United States of America (USA) and Israel. He said that Pakistan and Turkey should mediate in this conflict.

Talking to media in Mansoora, Lahore, Haq said that the US will find new markets for its weapons through this war. He said that Pakistan and Turkey were in a position that they could mediate between Iran and Saudi Arabia and thus tone the things down as only Israel will benefit from a war in the gulf.

Joining the discussion separately, Senator Rehman Malik supported Saudi Arabia’s operation in Yemen and vowed to back the Saudi Kingdom.

PPP Senator Rehman Malik cited PPP Co-Chairperson Asif Ali Zardari as saying that his party would not let sacred places harmed in the Saudi Arabia.

Malik said the impression that PPP was supportive for any particular country was wrong. He called upon OIC to play its role in finding resolution to Yemen problem. “If Zardari is given such responsibility, he would play his role for mediation. Zardari had also played the role of mediator between Saudi Arabia and Iran,” added the senator.

Furthermore, JUI-F chief Fazlur Rehman met with Pakistan Muslim League-Functional (PML-F) chief Pir Pagara in Karachi to discuss key issues and Yemen conflict.

Later, Fazl told media that the issue of sending army to Yemen should be decided in consultation with the political leadership as it is a very sensitive matter. He cautioned that it is the policy of the US to turn the situation in Yemen as a sectarian war. “If there is any pressure on Pakistan, an APC be convened to devise a consensus strategy.”