NA unanimously passes resolution against US drone strikes

Published December 10, 2013
A view of  the National Assembly.— File photo
A view of the National Assembly.— File photo

ISLAMABAD: The National Assembly on Tuesday unanimously approved a resolution against US drone strikes in Pakistan, calling them a violation of "the charter of the United Nations, international laws and humanitarian norms."

The resolution, jointly moved by Naeema Kishwer Khan, Maulana Ameer Zaman, and Shania Akhtar Ali, condemned the strikes in Pakistan's tribal areas, calling for them to be immediately stopped.

The resolution stated: “The House strongly condemns the drone attacks by the allied forces on the territory of Pakistan, which constitute violation of the principles of the Charter of the United Nations, international laws and humanitarian norms. Such drone attacks must be stopped forthwith.”

The resolution was unanimously adopted by both the treasury and the opposition parties.

Federal Minister for States and Frontier Regions, Lt-Gen (r) Abdul Qadir Baloch there was consensus on the stoppage of drone attacks as such attacks violate the country's sovereignty.

He said drone attacks were proving counter-productive and that the government wants the stoppage of drone attacks by building pressure on the allied forces.

A drone attack which killed former Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) Hakimullah Mehsood had already sabotaged the peace process, he said.

He further said that the government had also raised the issue in a meeting with the US defence minister on Monday and that it was peacefully pursuing the issue through diplomatic means.

Terrorism was increasing instead of declining , we need to move with national consensus on these issues and parties should not take solo flights in this regard, he added.

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