December 3, 2003	Wednesday	Shawwal 8, 1424

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ISLAMABAD, Dec 2: Senate Chairman Mohammadmian Soomro on Tuesday defended his action of rejecting opposition’s resolution regarding constitution of a commission on the Kargil issue, saying every item was dealt in accordance with the rules of business of the upper house.

Though he could not cite the rules under which the resolution tabled by PPP’s Farhatullah Babar in the senate was disapproved by him, he said the member must have been informed under which rule his motion was rejected.

“We have specific rules regarding the national security, otherwise no motion is blocked,” he told reporters here at the Parliament House.

When his opinion was sought on the LFO, he said he would comment when the matter was referred to him.

“We speak through our rulings,” the chairman stressed, recalling that the National Assembly speaker had already given his ruling on this issue.

When asked what would be his reaction if a similar resolution or a motion regarding the Kargil episode was again moved by the opposition, he said he would act strictly according to rules.

He said the senate had complete record of the motions which had been dismissed in his chambers, but said he could not remember the exact number.

Replying to a question about his meeting with the Commonwealth secretary-general in London, he said there was a realization among the Commonwealth countries that Pakistan should also be brought back into its fold.

Asked that important decisions like revival of air links with India were being taken without taking parliament or the cabinet into confidence, he said these were sensitive issues and could not wait long. He, however, said the cabinet must have been informed about these decisions, while there was no sitting of the assembly or the senate at that time.

About the forthcoming visit of Chairman of the Chinese People’s Consultative Conference (CPCC) Mr Jia Qinglin, he said the visit was significant, and added that the senate of Pakistan and Chinese people were on equal footings.