ISLAMABAD, Oct 16 Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi assured parliament on Friday no Pakistani authority had been conceded to benefit from the Kerry-Lugar bill of enhanced US aid to Pakistan as he wound up the most furious debate the present government faced in 18 months of its life.

In speeches to the National Assembly and Senate to close prolonged opposition-sought discussions in the two houses hours after his return from urgent talks with US authorities, he put a brilliant defence of what President Barack Obama on Thursday signed into law as Enhanced Partnership with Pakistan Act of 2009, which will triple non-military US aid to Pakistan to $7.5 billion over the next five years.

“Pakistan has neither conceded any of its authority nor it intends to concede anything,” he said in identical speeches in the two houses before they were prorogued after talking out the opposition motions.

He extensively quoted from an explanatory statement he secured from the two houses of the US Congress to reject charges from opposition parties and other critics that the new American law's conditionalities applicable to a still undetermined military aid would compromise Pakistan's sovereignty.

In both houses, the minister was repeatedly applauded by desk-thumping by members of the PPP-led ruling alliance, particularly during an hour-long fiery speech in the 342-seat National Assembly, where only a few chants of 'Shame, Shame' and 'Bill Namanzoor' (bill not accepted) were raised from the opposition benches after Deputy Speaker Faisal Karim Kundi read out a presidential order proroguing the house after a 12-day session.

However, the foreign minister's second oration before a low attendance in the 100-seat Senate afterwards was low-pitched, and house chairman Farooq Naik rejected a demand from opposition leader Wasim Sajjad to hold another debate on Wednesday's explanatory statement, which said its purpose was “to facilitate accurate interpretation of the text (of the act) and to ensure faithful implementation of its provisions” and that “this legislation does not seek in any way to compromise Pakistan's sovereignty, impinge on Pakistan's national security interests, or micromanage any aspect of Pakistani military and civilian operations”.

Mr Qureshi said the explanatory statement, which also says that “there are no conditions on Pakistan attached to the authorisation of $7.5 billion in non-military aid” had become part of the US bill, as he appealed to parliamentarians to reach conclusions keeping in view Pakistans interests.

The note also says “The only requirements on this funding are financial accountability measures that Congress is imposing on the US executive branch, to ensure this assistance supports programs that most benefit the Pakistani people.”

“This is not the time for political point-scoring (because) Pakistan is facing huge challenges to its security,” the minister said, referring to the activities of terrorist organisations as well as what he called India's “diplomatic onslaught” after terrorists attacks in Mumbai in November last year - about which he noted that seven accused arrested in Pakistan were facing trial while 20 others were absconding.

“We have to understand the environment in which we are working,” he said and asked parliament members “Please rise above parochial or party interests ... and unify for the sake of Pakistan. Pakistan needs your wisdom.”

Mr Qureshi took particular exception to those calling for rejecting the US bill, which he pointed out envisioned its extension for another five years that would take the total non-military aid to $15 billion and said “I can say with authority that if $15 billion is invested in Pakistan in the next 10 years through this bill it will change the shape of social indicators.”

RIGHT SIGNAL The minister said the bill would also encourage other international donors to help Pakistan. “This is a signal. The international financial institution and many countries who want to support Pakistan were waiting to see what signal does the United States give. And the signal has given the right nod to financial institutions of the world and to other democrats and other industrialised countries of the world to come to Pakistans assistance....”

He said those calling for rejecting the bill out of hand did not understand the economic and vital defence and security implications “that are linked with our partnership and our bilateral relations with the United States

While justifying conditionalities such as those relating to Pakistan's commitment to fighting terrorism, improving border controls, preventing nuclear proliferations, and strengthening civilian authority that he said were part of the country's declared policies, the minister agreed with objection taken to the language of some sections of the bill which he said Islamabad had tried its best to rectify in the face of more resourceful lobbies seeking to harm Pakistan.

About fears of Pakistans nuclear programme being hit by the conditions, Mr Qureshi said the whole nation was united on maintaining a “credible minimum deterrence” and there was no question of allowing any restriction on it.

The minister, who had gone to the United States after a brief appearance in the National Assembly on Oct 9 after an earlier trip to Washington, said he had minced no words in conveying reservations expressed in Pakistan and got a prompt response from the authors of the bill and other US officials in the shape of the explanatory statement to meet those concerns, which included a statement issued by an army corps commanders that “expressed serious concern regarding clauses (of the bill) impacting on national security”.