ISLAMABAD: Legislators in Senate, the upper house of the Parliament, on Monday deplored the US bill allowing more drone strikes inside Pakistan.

The matter was raised by Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Senator Syed Zafar Ali Shah and was duly supported by members of other political parties.

Speaking on a point of order, Shah said the US Congress had passed a bill allowing the CIA to carry out more drone strikes inside Pakistan “at will” which was a violation of the UN laws and sovereignty of Pakistan.

“When the Indian home minister admitted that BJP is harbouring terrorists inside India, there was no action taken by the US. However, despite our sacrifices in the war against terror, it has given blanket powers to CIA to conduct drone strikes in Pakistan,” he added.

The PML-N lawmaker said that over 50,000 Pakistanis have laid down their lives but the US was rewarding Pakistan with more and more drone strikes.

He said such an act would further harm the world peace and asked the government to take appropriate action in this regard.

Senator Mushahid Hussain Syed, supplementing the point of view of Shah, said the US decision is unacceptable.

“On one hand, the US is seeking assistance from Pakistan for negotiations in Afghanistan to restore peace in the war hit country while on the other hand, they are allowing more attacks inside the country,” he added.

The senator said that with the US forces withdrawing from Afghanistan, such a heavy logistic operation was going to take place in the region that a truck would be passing through Pakistan after every seven minutes.

“Such a heavy logistic exercise is impossible without assistance from Pakistan. We should link assistance in Afghan peace process with halting of drone operations,” he suggested.

Raja Zafarul Haq of PML-N said that President Barrack Obama had taken oath for his second term as US President, but his signing of the law allowing the CIA was to be held in 15 days.

“We hope that the foreign ministry, armed forces and the government would take up the matter with the UNSC,” he said.

Senator Raza Rabbani, on the occasion said the Parliamentary Committee on National Security (PNSC) would also take up the matter.

Moreover, the house has also called upon Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar to present the government’s perspective on the issue in the next Senate session.