August 10, 2007	Friday	Rajab 25, 1428

LAHORE, Aug 9: Pakistan Muslim League vice-president Senator SM Zafar has called for a consensus on review of post 9/11 policy towards the US and proposed constitution of an all parties parliamentary committee for the purpose.

Giving concluding remarks during a discussion on US threats and Islamabad reaction, arranged by the Old Ravians Association here on Thursday, he said that Pakistani society had reacted sharply to the threatening statements of US leaders because it was not what it used to be in the recent past. It had woken up and was calling for a review of the policy towards the US. While the foreign ministry had responded to the official statements, the reaction on the statements of Obama and Tancredo had come from the civil society.

He said that Pakistan had maintained close relations with the US since its first Prime Minister Liaqat Ali Khan visited Washington soon after independence. It not only supported the US during the cold war but also supported its war against terrorism after 9/11 along with the world community. The policy required a review because it had failed to reduce the incidence of violence in the society. IF Israel could talk to Hamas, Pakistan should also negotiate with the Taliban and the fundamentalists.

He said that building of consensus was necessary on the change of policy on relations with the US. If the government could hold talks with the leader of one political party, it could also talk to other political parties at least for consensus on foreign policy. Constitution of an all party parliamentary committee was the easiest way for achieving the objective.

He said that the parliament was the best forum for developing consensus on issues of national importance. It had proved that it was not a rubber stamp parliament when army was not sent to Iraq on US request after adoption of a resolution against it by the national assembly.

He said that there was no reason for imposition of emergency. He said that President General Pervez Musharraf was also opposed to emergency because he wanted the parliament to complete its tenure.

Former ambassador Saeeduzaman Janjua said that Pakistan had not been able to become a sovereign state despite independence. “The policy adopted by the government after 9/11 had given rise to extremism and loss of precious lives. Its defence forces were fighting against its own people. The government required to stop following the foreign dictates blindly.”

Chaudhry Javed Saleem said that General Pervez Musharraf should realize that his the army was pitched against its own people as a result of his policies and the people were worried about their future. The government response against the US threat was only a face-saving attempt because the Ameriucans gave them no importance. He said that the US had done more than holding out threats in the past. It had even bypassed the armed forces and massacred the people. —Reporter