View of Senate. - File Photo

ISLAMABAD: Senators voiced concern on Tuesday over resumption of US drone attacks and called for implementing a decision to shoot down the unmanned aircraft violating the country’s territorial integrity.

Speaking on points of order in the Senate, they also called for getting any airbase in the country still under the use of US forces vacated.

The country’s soil and facilities must not be allowed to be used against its own people, they said.

Prof Khurshid Ahmed of Jamaat-i-Islami criticised the government for its silence over the resumption of drone strikes and asked the defence minister and army and air force chiefs to explain why the decisions supported by parliament and people to shoot down the pilotless aircraft were not being implemented.

He referred to a statement made by the army chief that local commanders needed no orders from higher authorities to take action in the event of an attack and said: “Why such declarations are made when these are not to be acted upon.”

Leader of the Opposition in the House Maulana Abdul Ghafoor Haideri supported Prof Khurshid and warned the government of a revolution if people’s expectations were ignored.

Professor Ibrahim said there were reports that some airbases were still being used by US forces and urged the government to immediately get them vacated.

He also sought an assurance from the government that the Nato supply route would never be reopened.

Welcoming an Indian parliamentary delegation which was in the galleries, the senators said normal relations between the two countries would serve the cause of peace in the region.

They stressed the need for bridging the trust deficit and said parliamentarians had a role to play in strengthening the political will of the two governments to resolve all outstanding issues, including Kashmir and water disputes.

Mian Raza Rabbani of the PPP read out a 10-point charge-sheet against former military ruler Pervez Musharraf and urged the government to register a treason case against him for twice suspending the Constitution.

He said no written record for handing over airbases to the United States was available with the Foreign Office, defence ministry or any government agency.

The allegations made in the charge-sheet included Musharraf’s decision to arrest and remove judges of the superior courts and complicity in Benazir’s assassination and killing of Nawab Akbar Bugti.

Mr Rabbani said the Musharraf regime was also responsible for missing persons and military operation in Balochistan. He said the retired general had weakened the federation and pitched the provinces against each other.

Khalid Soomro and Zahid Khan pointed out that Gen Musharraf was also responsible for the Lal Masjid operation and killing of over 40 people in Karachi on May 12, 2007.

RESIGNATION MYSTERY: Amid rumours that Senator Babar Awan was set to return to the cabinet as law minister, Leader of the House in the Senate Nayyar Hussain Bokhari requested the chair to defer the 20th amendment bill which was on the agenda and was to be moved by Law Minister Moula Bux Chandio.

Mr Bokhari said there was no minister in the house as Mr Chandio had told him that he had resigned. Mr Chandio who was sitting next to him did not contradict the statement till the adjournment of the session for Wednesday.

But later talking to reporters, Mr Chandio said he had not resigned. He said he had held a meeting with President Asif Ali Zardari, but had neither resigned nor had been asked to do so. “I am a worker of the PPP and will tender my resignation if asked to do so.”

Answering a question, he said the government was not at war with the judiciary or the army. He expressed the hope that the army would cooperate with the new defence secretary.

He said he believed Gen Musharraf was involved in Benazir’s assassination.