Getting into Yemen conflict to ruin country, says Khursheed

ISLAMABAD: Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly Syed Khursheed Shah has said that participation in the Saudi Arabia-Yemen conflict would turn the country into ashes while the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) also advised the government to stay neutral in this crisis.
Syed Khursheed Shah said that the government should call a joint session of both the houses of parliament and take parliament into confidence before sending troops to Saudi Arabia.“The government should not take any decision in closed door. Elected representatives should take the decision on the forum of parliament. Our participation in the war in Yemen will give rise to religious chaos in the country,” he said while speaking on a point of order in the National Assembly (NA) on Friday.
He went on to say, “The Middle East situation has become complicated within a few days. Pakistan is joining the Middle East war. If Pakistan participates in this war, this house should be taken into confidence.
“When the army takes part in any war, the house is taken into confidence. This house is sovereign and is public representative. We have longstanding affinity with Saudi Arabia. We relationship. Pakistan should realise that it will have to play an effective role in narrowing down the divergences between the Muslim countries rather than expanding them,” he remarked.
He said that Pakistan should play constructive role. Leadership should visit the Muslim countries and play role in forging unity in their ranks. It should make it clear on them why the Muslims are fighting every where and why they are being pitted against each other. Why there is dissension among them. We are supportive of humanity.
“Zarb-e-Azab operation is continuing in the country,” he said and added, “Twenty percent Shiite population is living in the country. We should not take part in Yemen war. We will have to say to Saudi Arabia to maintain peace and bring all the Muslims under one banner. Pakistan should not become part of Yemen war. This war will spill into our streets like Afghan war. We should learn lesson from the past”, he underlined.
“When some problem arises, political leadership gets united. Opposition had sided with government in the political crisis in the past. We want to save Parliament. Government should go for consultation process with the opposition with respect to foreign policy. Politicians will have to author foreign policy together. Parliament stands with government in all wretched hours”, he underscored.
He observed, “Opposition had not betrayed the government. If government does not take opposition into confidence, it will trigger mistrust. If we participate in the war, a new flame will blaze.”
He said, “We are with Nawaz Sharif if he goes ahead for world peace. Nawaz Sharif will have to become ZulfiKar Ali Bhutto and will have to ensure peace in the Muslim world. Pakistan and Pakistani nation will be ruined if we take part in Yeman war, he warned.
Asim Yasin adds: Pakistan People’s Party Parliamentarians (PPPP) Vice President Sherry Rehman when contacted said, ”For committing Pakistan’s troops in any on-ground military engagement abroad, taking Parliament and political parties into confidence is necessary.”
Sherry Rehman, who had also served Pakistan Ambassador to United States during previous PPP government, said, “So far, the PPPP had not been institutionally consulted, nor do we have any briefing about the operational view of other stakeholders. “We can only make an informal decision once we know all the facts,” she added.
When Contacted, PPP spokesman Senator Farhatullah Babar said Pakistan should not get involved in the conflict in another country. “Afghanistan has taught us a lesson that we must refrain from getting involved in civil war in the other countries,” he said.
Mumtaz Alvi adds: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan called upon the rulers to stay neutral in any sectarian conflict in Gulf and the Middle East (ME) while expressing grave concern as Pakistan being pushed into a war being spearheaded by a US-Saudi military alliance in Yemen against Houthi rebels.
PTI Central Media Centre issued Imran’s statement on the matter and insisted Pakistan should stay neutral. He said, “There would be a severe backlash in our own region, especially in Pakistan. We are already confronting a huge sectarian problem in Pakistan.”
“Has Pakistan not suffered enough by participating in others’ wars? Have we learnt no lessons at all? In the last decade, our army, especially our jawans have rendered huge sacrifices by participating in the US war on terror – 50,000 dead, another 50,000 maimed, over 100 billion dollars loss to the economy,” Imran reminded.
He said this was apart from the terror hits against the military and law-enforcement agencies (LEAs) as a result of the growing terrorism that overwhelmed Pakistan after 9/11.
Imran said Pakistan’s armed forces were already involved in fighting the terror menace within Pakistan and were confronting an aggressive Indian military especially along the LoC and the Working Boundary. “Pakistan simply cannot afford to send its forces off to fight someone else’s war especially a war without UNSC sanction – similar to the US-led coalition war in Iraq after 9/11,” he pointed out.PTI chief said Pakistan should play a lead role in negotiating and helping in peace talks rather than becoming a participant in the war.