Indian threat can’t be taken lightly, says Rabbani

ISLAMABAD: Former Senate Chairman Mian Raza Rabbani on Saturday said Indian’s threat could not be taken lightly, emphasising the entire nation was united in the face of Indian threat and stood behind its armed forces.

He called on the government to convene a joint sitting of Parliament’s two chambers to discuss the Indian threat in the wake of Pulwama attack and form a parliamentary committee on the national security.

“India continues to violate international law as it blatantly tramples over the rights of the people of Occupied Jammu & Kashmir and perpetuates state genocide on the Kashmiri people,” he pointed out in a statement issued here.

Rabbani contended that Indian threats towards Pakistan had to be viewed in a historical context, therefore, could not be taken lightly. The entire Pakistani nation was united in the face of the Indian threat and stand behind its armed forces.

The government, he emphasised, should immediately summon a joint sitting of Parliament to discuss the Indian threat. It should also constitute Parliamentary Committee on National Security so that, in conjunction with relevant stakeholders, a massive offensive of parliamentary diplomacy can be launched to thwart the nefarious Indian designs.

The former Senate chairman said that a Parliament to Parliament contact could prove to be effective in exposing India.

The upper House of Parliament will commence its 287th session Monday and on the private members day, business submitted by the senators, including legislative items is to be taken up. However, according to parliamentary sources, the issue of Pulwama strike and the evolving situation with particular focus on Indian war-mongering is expected to figure in during the proceedings.

A policy statement by the Minister of Defence Pervaiz Khattak or Minister for Foreign Affairs Shah Mehmood Qureshi could not be ruled out as the opposition is likely to seek the government policy statement on the hot issue. Similarly, the Senate is also poised for fireworks after the recent arrest of Sindh Assembly Speaker Agha Siraj Durrani by the National Accountability Bureau, which Pakistan People's Party has dubbed as political victimisation and selective accountability. Former president and PPP-Parliamentarians President Asif Ali Zardari and JUI-Fazl chief Mualana Fazlur Rehman have established contacts anew to giving the government tough time.