LAHORE : Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Quaid Mian Muhammad
Nawaz Sharif has said his party would not compromise
on the sovereignty and integrity of Pakistan.
He said that the foreign policy of Pakistan should be made through elected representatives of the country; instead of the intelligence agencies. Nawaz insisted that Army and secret agencies budget should be discussed and passed from the Parliament as it is the hard earned money of the people. Nawaz expressed his confidence that nuclear assets of the country are safe and if needed, we will protect them ourselves.
Nawaz revealed that government resolution drafted for the joint sitting of the Parliament was very fragile and it had no mention of stopping drone attacks, establishing independent commission on US operation, and halting US supply if drone attacks are not stopped. Nawaz said all these important points were included in the resolution on the pressure of PML-N members.
He said any agreement about drone attacks signed either verbally or written by anyone should be revealed in front of nation. Replying a question, Nawaz said we don’t have to confront the US but if we take a stand on our self respect and National interests, world including US will accept our stand.
Nawaz Sharif said that I have made it clear on US Ambassador that there can be no compromise on the sovereignty and integrity of Pakistan. Pakistan has sacrificed most in war against terror and yet we are accused of it which is not acceptable any more.
Nawaz said I have categorically told the US Ambassador that unilateral cooperation with US can’t go on as it is. He said we feel deep regret over 9\11 incident in US but there has been no attack since in the US. Nawaz said Pakistan is the direct victim of terrorism and 35,000 Pakistanis have been martyred including 5,000 security personnel. Nawaz threatened if drone attacks were not stopped, we will shut down the NATO supply line.
PML-N Quaid said according to the joint sitting resolution, independent commission to probe the Abbotabad incident would be set up, adding that the commission should be established immediately in consultation with Leader of the Opposition in National Assembly Chaudhry Nisar. He said that if the government would use delaying tactics for the formation of independent commission the PML-N would announce its future strategy.
He said that the only way to stop terrorism and extremism in Pakistan is to implement on the 14 point resolution of the Parliament, passed in the previous joint sitting of the Parliament.
He termed the purpose of the investigation of the Abbotabad operation as not to punish or praise someone but to fix the weaknesses that brought h shame and shock for Pakistan.
He said that independent commission which should have the authority of suggesting punishment and reward for the responsible of the Abbottabad incident should be set up immediately, adding that those people should be included in the commission who would not be affected by any pressure.
He said that all the details of the responsible about this operation and intelligence agencies should be presented in front of nation.
Nawaz Sharif showing flexibility in his earlier stance said though “we had called for a judicial commission in the chairmanship of Chief Justice of Pakistan but if honest people who have confidence of nation are included in the commission it would be acceptable to us”.
He said if Shamsi Air base have been donated to some other country it does not imply that we should be the victim of the attacks of jets flying from the airbase.
Nawaz reflecting back at his past tussle with the Army said our main purpose of this inquiry is to fix the responsibilities of the Army and secret agencies for the future according the law and constitution of the country. He said this step will halt the Army from destabilizing any political government and do not fund any one to overthrow a political government and form coalitions against them.
Nawaz highlighting his bitter past saying that in 1999 Marshal Law was not a step of Pakistan Army but an adventure of four Generals i.e. General Pervez Musharraf, General Mehmood and Brigadier Salah-ud-Din Satti.
He said our only goal is to achieve self respect and will never allow dominating personal interests on national interests. He said for this purpose I have suffered prison and exile. I have been striving since 1999 and never faulted in my efforts.
Nawaz reflecting on the history of Pakistan said nation is suffering from the policies implemented in the country since 1958 and time has come to transform these unjust policies.
Appreciating the role of the Parliament, Nawaz said Parliament should have played this role a lot earlier, which it has done on Friday. Pakistan should not use diplomatic language any more with US instead it should talk of its interests, Nawaz said.
Nawaz said it is need of the hour that we define the direction of way forward for the country. He said “we should address the people concerns regardless the resentment about US or any other institution”.
He said that might be possible that the deals struck by general (retd) Musharraf come before the commission set for the inquiry of the Abbottabad incident.
He said that the reliability on the US should be ended, adding that we have self respect it may be possible that some people has no self-respect.
He said that policy regarding India should be formulated by the elected government; instead of the secret agencies, adding that in 1999 Indian Prime Minister Wajpai agreed to solve the Kashmir problem but some generals by initiating Kargil adventure sabotaged the whole developments.
He said that corps commanders were ignorant about the Kargil adventure, adding that the present government has disappointed the nation.
He said that those who wrote articles in Washington times, how they could talk about the independent commission; meanwhile the rulers congratulated about nation about the Abbottabad operation.
He said that there should be no allegations on each other regarding the Abbottabad operation, adding that no country could be permitted to violate the sovereignty of the country.
Nawaz expressed his opinion that sit-ins should not be arranged in Peshawar, Karachi, or other place but it should be organized in front of the houses that have permitted this heinous act. SANA
