ISLAMABAD: The government has convened a special meeting of the heads of parliamentary parties on Friday (today) to discuss a draft resolution on the Yemen crisis to be tabled in the joint session of parliament.

“We have been asked to come to the chamber of the National Assembly’s speaker at 10am to discuss the resolution which the government intends to table in the joint sitting of the parliament,” Senator Mushahid Hussain of the PML-Q told Dawn. He said he would represent his party in the meeting.

On the possible text of the resolution, he said that was something which only somebody from the government side could shed light on. “As far as the feeling prevailing in the house is concerned, an overwhelming majority of legislators has spoken against becoming involved in the Yemen conflict,” he said. “In so many words, no Pakistan boots on the ground in Yemen.”

Also read: Parliament to decide Pakistan’s role in conflict: army chief

Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) Information Secretary Dr Shireen Mazari confirmed that her party had been invited to the meeting and said that along with the leader of PTI’s parliamentary party in the National Assembly, Shah Mehmood Quershi, she also would attend the meeting. She added that the PTI was opposed to military intervention in Yemen.

Govt invites heads of parliamentary parties to debate issue

A government functionary said that considering the nature of speeches delivered in the joint session of parliament, the resolution was likely to emphasise on three points. “Pakistan will support Saudi Arabia with all available resources to protect its territorial integrity and sacred places. The country will stay away from the Yemeni crisis as far as its military is concerned. And it will play the role of a bridge builder among the Muslim countries to bring the fighting parties in Yemen to negotiation table.”

But Pakistan, in response to Saudi request for military help, may send a limited number of troops but only to protect its holy places, he said.

At the outset of the joint sitting of parliament last Monday, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif had informed the house in a policy statement that Saudi Arabia had requested Pakistan to join the coalition fighting Houthi rebels in Yemen by contributing warplanes, navy ships and ground troops.

Major political parties attending the joint session -- the PPP, PTI, Muttahida Qaumi Movement, Awami National Party and Pakhtunkhwa Milli Awami Party -- have opposed direct intervention in Yemen. However, leaders of all parties in their speeches over the last four days have called for offering support to Saudi Arabia in the fields of training and logistics.

Published in Dawn, April 10th, 2015

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