ISLAMABAD, April 20: Pakistan would lodge a protest with the Belgian government against the treatment meted out to Senator Maulana Samiul Haq at the Brussels airport, the Foreign Office spokesman said on Wednesday. “We are trying to ascertain the factual position from our ambassador in Belgium,” said spokesman Jalil Abbas Jilani.

He said that Maulana Samiul Haq was a member of parliament and an elected senator. “He should have been given due respect by the Belgian authorities,” said the spokesman.

The spokesman said Pakistan would lodge a protest with the Belgian authorities for the treatment meted out to him after getting an official report about the incident from the ambassador.

Maulana Samiul Haq was detained at the Brussels airport as the Senate foreign affairs committee reached Belgium on Tuesday evening.

Talking to this reporter on telephone from Brussels, Senator Latif Khosa said: “ Maulana Samiul Haq was detained at the airport for two hours on suspicion of links with Taliban.”

Sources said the senate foreign affairs committee refused to meet the foreign affairs committee of the European Parliament on Wednesday morning after the authorities objected to the participation of Maulana Samiul Haq in the meeting.

The sources said the Belgian authorities became suspicious of Senator Samiul Haq as his official profile includes achievements of being a founder and president of Pakistan-Afghan Defence Council with the address of Jamia Darul Uloom Haqania, Akora Khatak, NWFP — a Madressah from where the top leadership of Taliban graduated.

When contacted, chairman of the Senate foreign affairs committee, Senator Mushahid Hussain Syed, said the authorities had detained Senator Samiul Haq for 90 minutes on the grounds his travel documents were not in order. The Belgian authorities informed the committee members that Senator Samiul Haq could be released only on the directives of the higher authorities, said Senator Mushahid.

He said senators Latif Khosa and S.M. Zafar argued the case with the authorities and managed to secure the release as there was no charge against the detained senator.

Senator Mushahid said the committee, including members of the opposition and the ruling party, unanimously objected to the attitude of the Belgian authorities, for discriminating against an honourable senator of Pakistan who had valid travel documents.

Senator Mushahid said the committee decided not to attend the meeting scheduled with the foreign affairs committee of the European Parliament on Wednesday after it was conveyed through the Pakistani embassy officials that Maulana Samiul Haq could not be allowed to attend the meeting.

He said Senator S.M. Zafar would take up the matter of illegal detention of Senator Samiul Haq in his capacity as chairman of the Senate standing committee on human rights. Moreover, the foreign minister and the government would be asked to take up the matter with the Belgian government.

Senator Latif Khosa said the action by the Belgian authorities amounted to insulting Pakistan and its Upper House. He said the treatment meted out to a senator could be reciprocated if an apology was not tendered. He said a breach of privilege motion would be moved against the foreign ministry in the Senate and the government would be asked to lodge a strong protest with the Belgian government.

The committee members Senators Mushahid Hussain Syed, Latif Khosa, Gulshan Saeed, Samiul Haq, S.M. Zafar, Professor Kursheed Ahmed, Nisar Memon and Sardar Mehtab would visit London before returning home.