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Punjab PA takes exception to Holbrooke s statement

Posted on: Tue June 22, 2010

LAHORE: The Punjab Assembly on Monday condemned the statement of US envoy Richard Holbrooke in which he had cautioned Pakistan against finalising any gas pipeline deal with Iran.

The Punjab Assembly speaker allowed the legislators to table a resolution to urge the federal government to take a firm stand on the issues relating to the national interest. The Punjab Assembly session started on Monday with a delay of two hours and 10 minutes, with Speaker Rana Muhammad Iqbal Khan in chair.

Soon after the proceedings started, PML-N MPA Rana Afzal, on a point of order, slated the statement of US envoy Richard Holbrooke, which required that Pakistan be wary of committing itself to the natural gas pipeline deal with Iran, otherwise, the US sanctions on Iran could also affect the Pakistani companies.

Coming hard on the statement, Rana Afzal asked what reward Pakistan had reaped after offering cooperation to and sacrificing everything for the so-called ally in the war on terror. He said Pakistan was facing the energy crisis, but its friend (US) seemed to be unwilling to allow it to satisfy its energy needs.

He said their must be some meaningful debate over the issue pertaining to the national security interests.Seconding the views of Rana Afzal, Saeed Akber Niwani said the House had a tradition of giving rulings on the important matters raised through a point of order. He demanded of the speaker to give a ruling on the issue. Niwani said the issue did not just pertain to a province or the Centre, rather, it involved the interest of the nation. A resolution passed in the Punjab Assembly could convey a very effective message to the world, he added.

PML-N legislator Mian Muhammad Rafiq expressed his displeasure over the statement of Holbrooke, saying the US wanted not only to obstruct the Pak-Iran gas pipeline deal but also bar Pakistan from getting cheaper electricity from the neighbouring country.

Punjab Law Minister Rana Sana Ullah said if the House members were willing, they could hold mutual consultation and table any resolution in this regard.On the occasion, the speaker ruled that the legislators might table a resolution about the matter under discussion.

On a point of order for a separate issue, Ghazala Rana lamented the non-implementation of the orders of the Punjab chief minister in private schools. She said despite the instructions of the chief minister that free summer camps would be held in the government and private schools, the private schools were still charging heavy fees in the name of registration of students.

Punjab Minister for Education Mian Mujtaba Shuja-ur-Rehman, while responding to the point raised by Ghazala Rana, said the matter would be probed into by the Education Department.Meanwhile, Fateha was offered for the brother of MPA Sher Hassan Gorchani and late husband of MPA Riffat Sultana Dar.

Courtesy : The News