Assistance through KLB to help stabilize countrys economy: Fouzia.

ISLAMABAD, October 14, 2009 (Balochistan Times): Central Information Secretary PPP, Fouzia Wahab on Wednesday said that countrys budget was under stress in the prevailing conditions and US aid through Kerry Luger Bill would help improve the situation to some extend. Talking to a private television channel the PPP leader said that the country has suffered a lot in terms of human and economic losses due to its role in anti-terrorism campaign and consequently its budget was under stress. She said that decisions on the issues of national importance are not made on the basis of emotion rather they need wisdom and leadership abilities. An elected government was presently in the office which is accountable to the people, Fauzia said and added it would take no decision against the honour of country and its people. It is unfortunate that at a time when the bill was being debated in the parliament some people were still raising hue and cry over it, the PPP leader said. 2 Parliament is the appropriate forum to discuss KLB: Sherry ISLAMABAD: Former Information Minister Sherry Rehman Wednesday said KLB is under discussion in the parliament which is the appropriate forum to debate such issues. Talking to a private television channel she said that US aid has been coming to country in past too but first time the matter is being debated so widely in the parliament. First time a government has shown boldness by facilitating open discussion on the bill in parliament, she added. She said the stakeholders are expected to wait for a decision of the prestigious forum. She said that in democracy the decisions are made on the basis of majority view and the opponents are expected to adhere to these decisions. Sherry said that the US aid package of 2007 contained the similar conditions as KLB but the government of the time never bothered to take the issue to parliament for discussion. To a question she said the element of trust deficit on part of US leadership particularly in the economic area is due to the policies of the previous government. She said that due to Pakistans cooperation in international anti-terrorism campaign the US has been extending substantial amount of assistance to the country in the past which went unaccounted. The new US administration was facing hard domestic criticism on this count she said adding the author of the present bill senator Kerry and senator Luger are of the opinion that they have managed this package in very difficult conditions. She said that time is not conducive for the stakeholders to put undue pressure on the democratic government. Disagreeing the idea of All Parties Conference on the issue of KLB Sherry Rehman said there is an elected parliament which represents entire nation and a decision by this forum would reflect the ambitions of the people. To another question the former Information Minister said that India was fishing in troubled water in the Balochistan province.

(THROUGH ASIA PULSE)