WASHINGTON: Pakistan is not facing a zero-sum option in the Yemen conflict, says a senior PPP leader Aitzaz Ahsan, while stressing the need for caution in handling this very delicate situation.

“No, it is not a ’you-are-with-us-or-against-us scenario,” he said, when asked at a briefing if not supporting Saudi Arabia would put Pakistan in the enemy camp.

Senator Ahsan, who is in Washington to attend the first meeting of a US-Pakistan parliamentary forum, said that in the Yemen situation, the Pakistani parliament had sent two clear messages: Pakistan will maintain neutrality in any situation where Muslims are fighting Muslims. But if there is a threat to Saudi Arabia or to the two holy cities, then Pakistan may play a more pro-active role.

“This includes sending its troops, particularly under an OIC banner,” he said. “Pakistan does not need to treat it as an Iran-Saudi Arabia conflict.”

In the current situation, “Pakistan can only undertake rigorous and effective diplomacy,” he said. “This is no with-us-or-against-us situation. But it would be if Saudi Arabia itself was under threat.”

PPP leader says ‘Pakistan can only undertake rigorous and effective diplomacy’

Referring to Arab media reports that some Pakistani parliamentarians ridiculed Saudi Arabia in the debate, Senator Ahsan said He said: “Parliaments are forums of freedom of expression, and all kinds of views are freely expressed in them.”

The parliament, however, sent a clear collective opinion:

“Pakistanis are unanimous that they would respond vigorously if there is a threat to Saudi Arabia,” he said.

He warned that if the judicial commission upheld PTI’s plea, the prime minister would be forced to dissolve the assembly. The PTI would “gain a definite edge over the government if the commission reopens the electoral bags,” he said.

Senator Ahsan argued that since the judicial commission was authorised to examine any or all documents relating to the election, it should be possible for PTI to obtain such an inspection

“The judicial commission may prove problematic for the government if it chooses to exercise its full authority it has.”

The senator said that the government’s argument that elections can only be challenged in a court through an election petition was not valid as the commission was not a court. “It’s a unique body with specific powers that allow it to do so.”

Mr Ahsan also responded to questions on the legality of PTI MNAs participating in a parliamentary debate.

He said that under article 64, a member’s resignation became effective as soon as it came into the hands of the speaker.

But in 1992, the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business of Parliament were amended to provide for the speaker’s satisfaction that the resignation was genuine and voluntary.

Senator Ahsan supported the method Speaker Ayaz Sadiq adopted for such a determination: asking each member to appear before him.

Published in Dawn, April 14th, 2015

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