LAHORE, Nov 24: US drone attacks on Pakistani territory figured in the Punjab Assembly when the house resumed its proceedings after a two-day break here on Monday.

Pakistan Muslim League-N’s (PML-N’s) Waris Kallu, who tabled an adjourned motion on the issue, urged the chair to take up the motion out of turn because of its importance viz-a-viz national sovereignty and security.Senior Minister Raja Riaz opposed the move, saying that it was a sensitive issue regarding the NWFP province.

He said as the country lacked economic and military strength to wage a war against the trespassers, the issue should be resolved through dialogue and should not be politicised. He also demanded that the motion be kept pending.

Even though Mr Kallu did not oppose pending of his motion, he, however, differed with the Raja that economic strength was needed for waging wars. He said a debate on the issue would send a strong message to the federal government that the masses were ready to fight for the sovereignty of the country “even if they had to survive on grass”. He demanded that the government terminate logistics support to the allied forces in Afghanistan.

PML-Q’s Muhammad Zahid said the tribesmen were being subjected to cruelty by NATO forces. He said the incumbent rulers like Gen Musharraf were responsible for the miseries of the tribesmen.

It enraged Pakistan People’s Party’s (PPP’s) Shaukat Basra who said that why such cruelties were overlooked by the Q-Leaguers when they were in power from 2002 to 2007. — Staff Reporter