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The Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) on Wednesday submitted a resolution in the National Assembly urging the government to 'immediately' call a joint session of the parliament to discuss the issue of Pakistan's agreement to join a Saudi-led military alliance of 41 nations.
Submitted by PTI MNAs Shireen Mazari, Asad Umar and Arif Alvi, the resolution says PTI expresses "grave concern" over the government's decision to become a part of the Saudi coalition "ostensibly to fight terrorism" without taking the parliament into confidence.
It has been learned from the country's past, the resolution says, that it is not in Pakistan's national interest to get involved in foreign wars as the people of the country are "still suffering the consequences of such involvements in the past".
Also read: Pakistan will not participate in conflict that divides Muslim Ummah: Khawaja Asif
The PTI leaders referenced the resolution unanimously adopted by the parliament in April 2015, saying all political parties had agreed that Pakistan would remain neutral in the Yemen conflict.
While Saudi Arabia and Pakistan share historic ties of brotherhood, the PTI is concerned that the government agreed to join the Saudi-led military alliance "without knowing the parameters or terms of reference of such an alliance", they said.
The resolution said Article 40 of the Constitution calls upon the Pakistani state to encourage the settlement of international disputes by peaceful means and "strengthen fraternal relations among Muslim countries based on Islamic unity".
The PTI demanded that the government consult the parliament and develop a consensus on the issue before making any decision regarding the alliance.
The party had last month opposed the government’s decision to allow former chief of army staff (COAS) retd Gen Raheel Sharif to assume the command of the Saudi military coalition.
The proposed military coalition has reportedly been envisaged to serve as a platform for security cooperation, including provision of training, equipment and troops.
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Comments (49) Closed
Apr 12, 2017 12:06pm
PTI should not get involve with military alliance issue!
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Apr 12, 2017 12:07pm
When you need help tomorrow who should suppose to come and help ?.
That's how at work
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Apr 12, 2017 12:12pm
agreed with PTI instance, period.
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Apr 12, 2017 12:23pm
@Khan "When you need help tomorrow who should suppose to come and help ?. That's how at work" helping in killing fellow Muslims just to preserve despotic Monarchies is not all prudent and will not serve any purpose in the future moreover you will make Yemeni and Bahraini people your foes
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Apr 12, 2017 12:26pm
The war on terror is our common war & obligation to safeguard our faith from this self-destructive menace, earlier the better..!
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Apr 12, 2017 12:38pm
100% agree. We have seen results of engaging in others wars. We should stop being part of any alliance and focus on our economy.
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Apr 12, 2017 12:40pm
PTI has taken a stance which is far sighted in the interest of Pakistan. If Pakistan stays neutral in this conflict
a) Soon all muslim states will look towards us to resolve the dispute between Kingdom of Saudi Arab and Islamic Republic of Iran.
b) We will be united as a nation with no secterian harmony.
c) We will avoid the insurgency like we face after getting involved in Afghan war.
d) We will not be the killers of poor Yemeni people. What harm have they done to us anyway?
But I guess the personal favours of kings from KSA to sharif family demands us to obey them by joining their wars.
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Apr 12, 2017 12:50pm
I totally agree with the stance of PTI. There are people, who might consider this against the national interest or how can we question Army. But this is absolutely the right thing to do. We need to ask questions, and details in the parliament about our position.
Also Pakistani Army, and state must learn the lesson, whenever we have interfered in other matters, it has come back to us. So, I would urge every citizen and political party to speak up !
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Apr 12, 2017 12:51pm
To be honest Pakistan should act as a strong mediator.
With the objective of unifying syria and iraq and maybe even yemen into one secular democratic arab republic. Where Sunnis and Shias will be in acceptable ratios
Convince Iran to give up backing Asad and Syrians in exchange of full legitimacy of the current Iraqi government over both countries as a launching pad for 10 years until the engine of democracy is established.
incorporate iran into the "military alliance"
Send 3-5 divisions of an expedetionary force to fight Daesh in Iraq and Syria as part of the said alliance
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Apr 12, 2017 01:17pm
@Ahmed bin Babar Faith does not need safeguard from outsiders, it needs to be protected from you people.
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Apr 12, 2017 01:17pm
What for is this Saudi alliance , what are the objectives and surprisingly few Muslim countries are not included in the alliance. Pakistan joining this alliance under some sort of external pressures !
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Apr 12, 2017 01:19pm
In Pakistan everyone is sane when not in power. When in power...well they are never truly in power to be honest.
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Apr 12, 2017 01:23pm
PTI has no credibility.
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Apr 12, 2017 01:30pm
@Khan : such an insensible comment. Oh! you made it twice.
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Apr 12, 2017 01:32pm
Please its not your cup of tea
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Apr 12, 2017 01:47pm
Go and talk to the Govt, if you have any reservations.
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Apr 12, 2017 01:50pm
PTI is correct; Any such alliance needs discussion and ratification from the parliament which is a requirement in a democratic system. Government does not have the jurisdiction to get into any foreign agreements without approval and consent of the public which is to be sought from the Parliament which represents the people. SECONDLY, Please let us fix our own country before we start going around fixing the world.
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Apr 12, 2017 02:04pm
Imran Khan is absolutely correct that we shouldn't fight someone else's war but can he pls consider The 2 Holy Mosques (Haramain Ash Sharifain) our very own holiest Masaajid?
He has to understand that the ultimate goal of this allience is not to save Saudi but our own Holy Mosques.
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Apr 12, 2017 02:11pm
Saudis are not others they are more than ours.
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Apr 12, 2017 02:11pm
Since when we joined military alliance and we should know its mandate. Pakistan army is the strongest along with Turkeys and only we can lead the alliance. Our soldiers should not be put under any other middle eastern General command. None are professional. Their most competent force is supposed to be Egypt and Jordan, but they are being hammered by the Brotherhood.
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Apr 12, 2017 02:23pm
Very well said. What kind of democracy is this where decisions are taken individually on personal interest? Pakistan should stay away from all such adventures. We should become the part of this secretarian alliance.
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Apr 12, 2017 02:36pm
@Khan
Sir,
PTI is asking the Parliament to get involved. Please read the article again.
In democratic countries, military alliances and wars can only be entered into with the approval of the legislature and other democratic institutions.
What you are suggesting can only happen under dictatorships in banana republics.
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Apr 12, 2017 02:41pm
agreed with pti,pak should solv its own problem.its not the job of pti but its the responsiblity of every sensible pakistan to take care of it.
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Apr 12, 2017 02:42pm
@Khan
So is the military above any civilian or democratic control?
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Apr 12, 2017 02:43pm
@Khan every Pakistani should take care of the national interest related issues,pti present a large population the country.
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Apr 12, 2017 02:47pm
Shirin Mazhar is absolutely right. The consequences of this alliance will be felt not today or tomorrow, but many years hence. Just as we are still paying the price of Zia's unhelpful meddling in Afghanistan (at USA and KSA behest), so the those who support Yemenis and other anti - Saudi forces such as Iran, Lebanon, Iraq and many shia within our own country will bring this dreadful conflict to the streets of Lahore and Karachi.
It is quite unacceptable for the Nawaz government to sign Pakistan up to a conflict without proper debate and scrutiny in parliament. We should abide by our constitution which states that Pakistan is there to promote Muslim unity.
This is not a war on terrorism, moreover it is an attempt by KSA to interfere in a civil war in Yemen on the side of one party against the other.
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Apr 12, 2017 03:02pm
i agree with pti 100
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Apr 12, 2017 03:09pm
@Ashok ...Educate yourself properly and then comment about my country,Firstly look at you own Nation and give your opinions about how perfect or not is your own country!.
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Apr 12, 2017 03:18pm
Favoring a particular military block will be harmful in long run.
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Apr 12, 2017 03:19pm
Good stand of PTI about involvement of Pakistan in proxy wars, but unfortunately your voice always go unheard.
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Apr 12, 2017 03:30pm
PTI's stance on this issue is fully supported.
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Apr 12, 2017 03:32pm
Great PTI well done though nt ur support ter but this statements is highly patriotic to save the country from Afghanistan like situation in pk r like Syria &Yemeni!!
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Apr 12, 2017 03:42pm
Totally agreed with PTI. Pakistan shall learn lessons for past mistakes and avoid interference in involvement of other affairs and focus on addressing terrorism at home. Pakistan has always suffered due to such wrong initiatives which benefitted individuals.
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Apr 12, 2017 03:54pm
I hope you guys don't forget 3rd Umpire.
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Apr 12, 2017 04:05pm
Its very fool of UK, Australia and some European countries to fight war of USA in Afghanistan, right
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Apr 12, 2017 04:24pm
Any democratic country would first question Saudi led war on poor Yemen before even considering.
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Apr 12, 2017 04:29pm
PTI is right and what has ever been achieved by Arab league ?
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Apr 12, 2017 04:31pm
Just like Arab league never achieved anything positive and benifical this coalition won't " because the very countries that make it are cause of instability and destruction.
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Apr 12, 2017 04:33pm
Coalition would not achieve anything peaceful and positive as the head state are involved in the destruction and instability in region and beyond !
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Apr 12, 2017 04:33pm
Thank you Imran Khan
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Apr 12, 2017 04:35pm
PTI voice your concerns on a world platform and be heard truly unique.
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Apr 12, 2017 04:44pm
Agreed with PTI. we are already struck and shouldn't indulge in others issues
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Apr 12, 2017 05:01pm
@zak He is not working under a Middle east General rather he will lead that alliance
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Apr 12, 2017 05:07pm
First words of wisdom by PTI.
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Apr 12, 2017 05:51pm
Pakistan please mind own business. Don't be corrupted by KSA, USA....
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Apr 12, 2017 06:05pm
@Raja Farthat Abbas we've no interest whatsoever in your country. Just give back our kashmir & then let's close all borders & all kind of dealings with each other. We'll be happy if we can become alien to each other
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Apr 12, 2017 07:03pm
As a Muslim it us our duty, to protect the Holly places of Islam.
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Apr 12, 2017 07:29pm
She is not wrong you know
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Apr 12, 2017 07:33pm
For once, I agree with PTI
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