US has NA prorogued, says Saad

Published March 21, 2003

LAHORE, March 20: The PML-N alleged on Thursday that the National Assembly session was prorogued on the “intervention” of US officials.

Punjab president of the party and MNA Khwaja Saad Rafiq told a press conference that the lower house was to adopt a unanimous resolution on the US aggression against Iraq but the session was put off for an indefinite period under directions from the US authorities.

Demanding immediate convening of the NA session, he said the opposition would soon submit a requisition in this regard so that a unanimous resolution on Iraq could be adopted.

He also asked the government to make public the talks being held with US officials on nuclear installations.

Holding the incumbent rulers responsible for the current Iraq crisis, he said the March 23 million men march in Lahore would be a referendum against the US-brand administration.

Mr Rafiq urged the prime minister to cancel his US visit for, he said, going to America immediately after China tour would send wrong signals to our time-tested friendly state.

Criticizing the information minister’s statement, he said US forces were already using country’s military bases. He said if the bases were not taken back from the United States, the rulers would be considered “co-accused” in the destruction of Iraq.

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