By Media Monitor Desk
ISLAMABAD: Political parties have urged US to
honor verdict of Pakistani parliament and public opinion with
regard to Kerry Lugar Bill (KLB) and drone attacks.
Members of parliament from political parties
represented in parliament held a two and half hour extensive
meeting with US secretary of state Hillary Clinton here in
parliament house Friday. A set of issues including Pak-US
relations, KLB, Kashmir issue, drones attacks, stability of
democracy and other matters of mutual interest featured in the
meeting. Chairman senate Farooq H Naik and speaker National
Assembly Dr Fahmida Mirza were also present on the occasion.
Former federal minister Aftab Ahmad Khan
Sherpao, Faisal Saleh Hayat, Ishaq Dar, Sherry Rehman, federal
minister Waqar Ahmad Khan, Azam Swati, Nayyar Bokhari, Abdul
Rahim Mando Khel and Fouzia Wahab were among those who met US
secretary of state.
Chairman senate Farooq H Naik said during the
meeting Pak-US relations were in the interest of the region
which would gain strength with the passage of time.
Speaker National Assembly Dr Fahmida Mirza
said parliament holds in high esteem bilateral ties between
Pakistan and US. Relations were flourishing between the two
counties in diverse sectors, she added. She called for forging
close interaction between the parliaments of both the countries.
Information secretary PML-Q like minded group
Kishmala Tariq urged US to introduce new bill with no
pre-conditions in connection with military assistance for
Pakistan. Peace will come to the region only if Kashmir issue is
resolved, she added. US president Barrack Obama should deliver
on his pledges in order to remove the trust deficit between the
two countries and US should not repeat its mistakes of the past
, she underlined.
She went on to say US should bolster trade
ties with Pakistan besides launching mega projects here.
Faisal Saleh Hayat and others were of the
opinion US on one side lends support to sustaining democratic
order and on the other side it does not respect the resolution
adopted by symbol of democracy , Pakistani parliament against
drone attacks. That is why concerns prevailing among the people
against US were proving correct, they added.
Faisal Saleh Hayat urged US secretary of
state if she announces to immediate end to US drone attacks then
the public opinion in Pakistan would also change.
Members of parliament said KLB does not
safeguard interests of Pakistan and the language used in the
bill suggests that US gives more importance to India than
Pakistan in the region.
They also stressed US should execute civil
nuclear technology accord with Pakistan like India .
US secretary of state Hillary Clinton said
democracy was critical for Pakistan and her country would
continue to cooperate with Pakistan for strengthening democracy.
“We are pursuing the policy of forging close interaction with
the people and their elected representatives in Pakistan. It is
also incumbent on elected representatives to present real
picture before the people”, she remarked.
She underscored the need for improvement in
the relations with neighbors adding US was also playing its role
in the efforts for resumption of talks between Pakistan and
India.
She laid stress on boosting trade ties
between Pakistan and India saying it would give the message of
peace adding expansion of trade relations with Afghanistan was a
good omen.
