MPs suggest joint session to decide sending troops to Yemen

ISLAMABAD: Representatives of political parties have asked the government to summon joint session of the Parliament to discuss request floated by Saudi Arabia to send
troops to complement airstrikes against Houthi forces in Yemen.
Senator Syed Tahir Hussain Mashhadi from Muttahida Qaumi Movement told The News that the issue of sending troops to any foreign country may have political repercussions and therefore government should take up the issue in a joint session.
“There is democracy in Pakistan and the government had no right to privately
discuss important issues and take decisions without consulting elected representatives.
Every political party should be asked to provide its
viewpoint on the issue of
sending troops to Yemen,” he said.
Zahid Khan of Awami National Party said once a military dictator had decided on his own to intervene in the affairs of neighboring Afghanistan and Pakistan had been facing its consequence since then.
“The PML-N led government should learn lesson from the past and avoid taking decisions that may divide the nation.
Senator Khalida Parveen from Pakistan People’s Party said all political parties should deliberate over the situation and take collective decision that should fully reflect the wishes of the Pakistani people.
“We have great respect for Saudi Arabia and any danger to its territorial boundaries would be a matter of grave concern for us.
Now there is a need for collective wisdom and I hope the government would fully
take the members into confidence on the Yemen issue,” she said.
Senator Kamil Ali Agha from Pakistan Muslim League-Q said government should discuss the issue of sending troops to Yemen both in Senate and National Assembly because the elected representatives can convey what the people of Pakistan are thinking.
He said, “The democratic governments always take members of Parliament
into confidence before taking any major decision and the upper house of the parliament where all the provinces have equal representation is the best forum to discuss major political issues.”
Iftikharuddin from All Pakistan Muslim League said
Defense Minister Khawaja Asif has already assured that
government would take Parliament into confidence before taking any decision over the Yemen issue.
“We all know that there are sectarian fault lines involved in the Yemen issue so Pakistan will have to move forward carefully keeping in view the bad experiences of Afghanistan where our intervention pushed us into the hot waters,” he said.