Lawmakers raise voice over rising drone attacks

ISLAMABAD: Members of the National Assembly Tuesday expressed serious concern over the rising drone attacks into the tribal areas of Pakistan. They called upon the government to get these attacks halted which are disturbing law and order and hurting the economy of the country.

PPP-Sherpao leader Aftab Ahmed Khan Sherpao said that more then five drone attacks were reported in tribal areas during the last 24 hours, adding that these attacks were resulting in terrorism and extremism in Pakistan.
He said the government claims that it is against these attacks and asked then why the joint resolution of the parliament regarding the drone attacks has not been implemented.
He said the government should table the joint resolution in the House to review the situation because the increasing number of drone attacks are causing collateral damage as well as resulting in extremism.
Sherpao warned that any military operation in South Waziristan would further deteriorate the situation.
JUI-F leader Maulana Atta-ur Rehman said that the US forces came to Afghanistan to eliminate terrorism however they have completely failed to curb the menace which has also affected Pakistan.

He also referred to the joint resolutions of the Parliament on drone attacks and called for implementation of these resolutions in true letter and spirit.
PML-N leader Hanif Abbasi said the government should make its policy clear on drone attacks and let the people know about any agreement in this regard.
He said innocent people have been killed in drone attacks which were ultimately resulting in terrorism and extremism.
He said the government should arrest the assassins of Shaheed Benazir Bhutto and called for joint struggle to expose her assassins, adding that Shaheed Benazir Bhutto was an asset of the country and she had remained Prime Minister for two times.
MQM leader Dr Wasim also expressed concern about law and order situation and terrorism in the country and called for all holding parties conference (APC) to find out a strategy to curb terrorism, suicide attacks.
PPP leader Fauzia Wahab was also concerned about terrorism and suicide attacks and said that instead of summoning APC the issue should be debated by the House.
Meanwhile, Dr Darshun staged a walk out from the House to protest increasing incidents of kidnapping of minorities for ransom in Sindh and other parts of the country.
Adviser to Prime Minister on the directions of Deputy Speaker went to protesting parliamentarian to bring him back in the House.
Pakistan Muslim League- N chief whip Sheikh Aftab took a strong line on recent increase in drone attacks in Pakistan’s tribal areas and termed it a dent in the country’s sovereign status.
He recalled Pakistan’s prestige which it acquired in the comity of nations on becoming the seventh nuclear state in the world and the first in the Islamic world, but lamented over its inability to be able to stop drone attacks. If we have to live we have to live as a sovereign country. We would not allow our sovereignty to be compromised, he said.
He drew attention of the House to the shutting down of industry in Faisalabad, country’s industrial hub owing to long power and gas outages. Closure of industry would definitely cast negative impacts at a juncture when prices had already soared very high in the country, he argued.
Sheikh Aftab urged the government to make what he called important decisions to improve law and order, eradicate unemployment and boost economy. He stressed for re-opening of industry, and institution that were once profit-making. -APP