Daily Times

ISLAMABAD: The National Assembly Thursday passed a unanimous resolution expressing deep concern over what is being called the biggest diplomatic crisis to hit the Persian Gulf since the 1991 US-led war against Iraq.

The resolution moved by Aftab Khan Sherpao of Qaumi Watan Party called upon all countries to show restraint in diplomatic tussle between Qatar and Saudi Arabia-led other Arab nations and resolve all differences through dialogue. “This House calls upon the government to take concrete steps towards forging unity amongst the Muslim Ummah in the region, in accordance with parliament’s unanimous resolutions adopted on 10-04-2015,” the resolution read.

Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) leader Shireen Mazari called for Pakistan to exit the Saudi-led 41-nation Islamic military alliance, urging the government to adopt a neutral role in the gulf crisis. “The conflict between Qatar and Saudi Arabia has America and Israel’s fingerprints all over it,” she claimed. “Qatar is being played… Pakistan should stay neutral and play a positive role and try to help resolve the conflict,” she said.

“US President Donald Trump and Israel are against a united Muslim Ummah. Pakistan should immediately exit the Islamic military alliance,” she demanded.

Awami Muslim League leader Sheikh Rashid claimed that the war against terror was not over yet. Echoing Mazari, he added that former army chief Gen (r) Raheel Sharif should not have sent Pakistani troops to Saudi Arabia.

Speaker Ayaz Sadiq told the House that a National Security Committee session had been called on June 15 to discuss the Qatar conflict. The agenda also includes the Islamic Summit that was hosted in Riyadh last month, he said.

At the outset of the proceedings, the House offered prayers for those martyred in the terrorist attacks in Iran.

Speaking at the floor of the House, the members strongly condemned the terrorist attacks on the Iranian parliament and mausoleum of Ayatollah Khomeini. They said that the whole nation stands with the Iranian brethren in this hour of grief. They said that terrorism was a common threat and collective efforts were needed for its eradication.

The National Assembly also passed a unanimous resolution strongly condemning the terrorist attacks on Iranian parliament and mausoleum of Ayatollah Khomeini. The resolution moved by Minister for Law and Justice Zahid Hamid expressed solidarity with the people and parliament of Iran.

The resolution reiterated the resolve to jointly combat the menace of terrorism with neighbours in the region.

Later, the House resumed general discussion on the proposed budget for the next fiscal year.

Members belonging to opposition parties staged a walkout from the House to press their demand for live broadcast of the speech of the leader of the opposition on PTV.

Rajab Ali Baloch said that the opposition leader has made small parties hostage and they were not being allowed to speak about the problems of their constituencies. He said the members of the small political parties should participate in the budget discussion to present their point of view.

Tehmina Daultana said that PML-N had sacrificed a lot for the strengthening of democracy in the country. She said it was result of the efforts of the government that a balanced and pro-people budget had been presented in the House.