Balochistan Assembly passes resolution over US aid bill.

QUETTA, October 13, 2009 (Balochistan Times): The Balochistan Assembly on Tuesday passed a resolution demanding of the government to adopt clear stance over Kerry-Lugar Bill besides making clear to the US officials that strict action would be taken if the US carries out drone attack on Balochistan. Senior Minister and Parliamentary leader of Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam (JUI) in the Balochistan Assembly, Maulana Abdul Wasey and Provincial Minister for Labour Maulvi Ghulam Sarwar jointly tabled the resolution which was adopted. The resolution demanded that the federal government should summon the US Ambassador and inform the envoy that no drone attacks on Balochistan and Muridkay (Punjab) would be allowed. Senior Minister Abdul Wasey, Provincial Minister and Parliamentary Leader of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) in the provincial assembly Sadique Ali Umrani, Minister Mir Shah Nawaz Marri, Minister Rahila Durrani, Minister Nasreen Khetran, PML-N Parliamentary Leader Captain (Retd) Abdul Khalique Achakzai, Jan Ali Changezi and Syed Ahsan Shah of BNP (Awami) participated in the debate that preceded the passage of the resolution. They criticized US and said its recent claim that leadership of Al Qaeda and Taliban were in Quetta was designed to create a pretext for drone attack there. The provincial lawmakers made it clear that such designs would be resolutely resisted. They legislators strongly condemned weekend attack on General Headquarters in Rawalpindi and termed it an attack on whole of the country. They demanded strict measures against persons involved in this act of terrorism. The members were of the view that US aid with strings attached should not be accepted. Later, the house was adjourned to meet again on October 15 at 11 am.

(THROUGH ASIA PULSE)