ISLAMABAD, Jan 27: The Senate was assured on Tuesday that the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) would hold an investigation into circulation among parliamentarians of a calendar proposing confederation between India and Pakistan and containing a map depicting the post-confederation scenario.The assurance was given after enraged lawmakers raised the issue and asked the government to take effective steps to “thwart conspiracies being hatched against the country’s ideology and integrity”.

Leader of the House Mian Raza Rabbani said the FIA would launch a probe into the matter and a report would be presented in the house.

Leader of the Opposition Kamil Ali Agha said the calendar floating the idea of “greater India” had been published in a province of India and sent to parliamentarians by mail as part of a conspiracy to disintegrate Pakistan.

He was of the view that the Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) -- the premier Indian intelligence agency -- in all probability was behind the conspiracy.

He criticised the government for what he called ignoring its responsibility and said the postal department should have intercepted the mail before delivering it to lawmakers.

This evoked a strong response from Mr Rabbani, who said he would not allow anybody to question the patriotism of any individual or political party. He said aspersions on the government were being cast by people having a track record of supporting dictators.

Mr Rabbani said it was not possible for the postal department to intercept mail because the era of military dictatorship was over now and there was no room for censorship of parliamentarians’ mail.

He recalled that Gen (retd) Pervez Musharraf during his days in power had talked about confederation with India. “It is deplorable that the people who had defended the idea at that time are today hurling accusations on us.”

Mr Rabbani said the government condemned the publication of the calendar, terming it against the ideology of Pakistan and the two-nation theory.

Prof Khursheed Ahmed called for rising above political differences to defend Pakistan’s ideology.

Gulshan Saeed said India should be given a strong response for the action. She alleged that India was responsible for terrorist activities in Balochistan, Swat and Fata. India had opened 18 consulates in Afghanistan to “hatch conspiracies against Pakistan,” the senator said.

Javed Ali Shah called for complete national unity and said no one would dare cast an evil eye on Pakistan if the people were united.

Earlier during the question hour, the government came under fire for appointing an orthopaedic surgeon as adviser on petroleum.

Professor Khursheed said there was no justification for appointing a person belonging to an absolutely different field for a specialised job.

Parliamentary Affairs Minister Babar Awan defended the appointment and said it was in accordance with the Constitution.