ISLAMABAD: Expressing concern over US President Donald Trump’s executive order
that barred entry of people from seven Muslim countries to America, oppos
ition legislators in the National Assembly urged the government to come up with a statement to clarify Pakistan’s stance on
the issue.
Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) leader Dr Nafisa Shah, when given the floor on a point of order, said
that visas to seven Muslims countries had been denied by the new US administration
. She said
that since it was a human rights issue, demonstrations were being staged even in America, and added
that Pakistan could also face such restrictions. “The Foreign Ministry should come up with a statement on this issue,” she demanded.
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Dr Shireen Mazari, also speaking on a point of order, said
that the government was silent on this inhuman treatment
. She said
that even the British parliament had condemned this move, while non-Muslim countries, including those in Europe, were also holding demonstrations against it
. She urged the government to clear its policy over Trump’s move.
It may be mentioned here
that the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) declined to support oppos
ition parties in connection with passage of their resolution in parliament against the United States for imposing the visa restrictions on people coming from muslim countries.
The government has also given indication to th
e Ministry of Foreign Affairs to keep quiet inside parliament and at
the international level on this matter.
Well-placed sources within parliament told Daily Times
that the ruling PML-N was under severe pressure from the PPP, PTI, Muttahida Quami Movement (MQM), Jamaat-e-Islami and its ally Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) on
the issue. According to the oppos
ition parties, Pakistan being a nuclear Islamic state should pass a joint resolution in its parliament against the visa restriction slapped by the Trump administration against seven Muslim countries, besides strongly condemning this move.
Oppos
ition parties in the National Assembly worked out a resolution, whereby the US move for imposing visa restrictions on Muslim countries was slammed in the strongest terms, sources said.
They added
that the JUI-F had also assured the joint oppos
ition that it would lend them full support to get the resolution passed. Oppos
ition parties also entered into an intensive consultation process with the ruling PML-N ministers to seek their support for the sake of the passage of this resolution, sources said.
The government had assured the oppos
ition on Wednesday
that this resolution would be passed with consensus on Thursday. Sources said
that several ministers, including Zahid Hamid and Sheikh Aftab Ahmad, had agreed to support the resolution.
However, sources within the PPP told Daily Times
that Prim
e Minister Nawaz Sharif and his Adviser on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz did not support the resolution, fearing impos
ition of economic sanctions and visa restrictions by the US and international monetary institutions.
On the other hand, all the federal ministers disappeared from the House a few minutes before conclusion of the proceedings. Stat
e Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Sheikh Aftab Ahmad admitted in parliament
that the Premier and the Foreign Ministry had given an indication
that the resolution would not be passed.