Desk-thumping and sloganeering: Strong protest in Northern Areas over drone attacks

Desk-thumping and sloganeering: Strong protest in NA over drone attacks

By Zia Khan

Published: April 15, 2011

Chaos in parliament over US strikes overshadows debate on presidential address.

ISLAMABAD:  Protesting against US drone strikes inside Pakistan’s tribal regions, lawmakers in the National Assembly criticised the government for failing to stop the attacks.

The sloganeering and desk-thumping by members from the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) created a chaos in the house on Thursday, overshadowing a debate on this year’s presidential address to the parliament.
Lawmakers from the party of former prime minister Nawaz Sharif pushed the government to move decisively against drone attacks and sought further explanation from Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani, despite his criticism on a US drone strike in South Waziristan that killed six people on Wednesday.
However, Gilani preferred not to respond to the opposition’s protest.
PML-N’s Khawaja Saad Rafique said if the government does not endorse US’ policy of drone strikes it must join the protesting PML-N.
Rafique said his party was ready to support the government if it is serious in evolving a strategy to resolve the issue of drone attacks.
Abdul Qadir Baloch from the PML-N warned the government that drone strikes inside Pakistan could compel the opposition parties to launch a countrywide movement against the government.
Parliamentarians from the party walked out of the house not only to protest against what they called inaction against drone attacks but also against increase in fuel prices and closure of Geo Super.
Taking part in the debate on the presidential address to the parliament, Aftab Ahmed Khan Sherpao expressed his concern that militants were extending their writ in the suburbs of Peshawar city.
He said around 1,120 schools had been destroyed in Swat since terrorism engulfed the country. The Muttahida Qaumi Movement’s Syed Asif Husnain also condemned the US drone attacks, saying they were against the integrity of the country.
The Pakistan Peoples Party’s Noor Alam Khan said the PML-N has dual policies on national issues.
Published in The Express Tribune, April 15^th, 2011.