Daily Times

LAHORE: Punjab Assembly passed a condemnation resolution against the US drone attacks on Tuesday, expressing serious concerns over the recent statement of US President Barack Obama, continuing the US strikes inside Pakistan.

The resolution was initially moved by the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI)-backed opposition leader in Punjab Assembly, Mian Mehmoodur Rasheed, which was then accepted by the treasury with an amendment suggested by the Law Minister, Rana Sanaullah, The resolution was unanimously passed later, after a parliamentary debate.

In the resolution passed by the Punjab Assembly, the House condemned the statement of US President for continuing its drone attacks inside Pakistan and termed it as an alarming and serious concern for the nation.

The passed resolution also demanded that the Prime Minister Mian Nawaz Sharif take all the national leadership into confidence over the situation, and announce a courageous policy reinstating the independence and sovereignty of Pakistan. According to the initial resolution, the Opposition Leader had demanded that the Prime Minister Mian Nawaz Sharif abridge his current private medical tour to London and return to Pakistan. However,Sanaullah opposed it by saying that Sharif is not on any official tour, but on a private tour for a medical checkup, and will return after tomorrow. hence, the opposition should expunge such words related to Prime Minister than their resolution could be taken up, he added.

Rasheed disagreed with such suggestions and stated that the highly critical situation in the country, especially when the US has already launched an attack in Balochistan and could engineer additional attacks in upcoming days on Islamabad and Lahore, made it necessary for the PM to return to Pakistan immediately, and take national leadership into confidence.

When both the benches did not reach a consensus, the Law Minister moved his amended resolution expunging the words related to PM Nawaz Sharif for ending his London tour, which was unanimously passed by the House.