Terming the resolution submitted by Dr Shireen Mazari of the Pakistain Tehrik-e-Insaf
...a political party in Pakistan. PTI was founded by former Pakistani cricket captain and philanthropist Imran Khan. The party's slogan is
Justice, Humanity and Self Esteem, each of which is open to widely divergent interpretations....
a "premature" move, a PML-N member of the federal cabinet categorically said it could not be passed in its present form and the opposition party would have to amend it with mutual consent for the purpose.
"We also want to stop drone attacks, but not through the use of military force because it can have serious and dangerous consequences," Minister of State Khurram Dastagir Khan said.
He said such a decision could affect the country's defence relationship with then US which was providing assistance to Pakistain in the sector.
He said the country was getting very little US assistance for civilian purposes.
"The use of military force could be an option, but only after exhausting all diplomatic means."
The government, Mr Dastagir added, had already lodged a protest with the US over a recent drone strike. Saying that drone strikes were unjustified, the minister said the focus of the PTI's foreign policy was mainly on drone strikes whereas the PML-N considered it a "small part" in the Pakistain-US relationship.
He said all parties considered drone attacks to be a violation of the country's illusory sovereignty, but the PML-N and the PTI had differences over the "framework of analysis" on the issue.
The parliamentary party of the PTI in its meeting held at the Parliament House just before the address of
President Asif Ali Ten PercentZardari
... husband of the late Benazir Bhutto, who has been singularly lacking in curiosity about who done her in ...
to a joint sitting of both houses endorsed the resolution submitted by Ms Mazari. The meeting was presided over by PTI vice chairman Shah
Mehmood WormtongueQureshi.
Through the detailed resolution, the PTI has called upon the government to "immediately take steps" and ask the US to end its drone strikes and "take diplomatic and, if need be, military measures to respond firmly to any such attack".
It reminds the government of its obligations in the light of a judgment by the Beautiful Downtown Peshawar
...capital of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (formerly known as the North-West Frontier Province), administrative and economic hub for the Federally Administered Tribal Areas of Pakistan. Peshawar is situated near the eastern end of the Khyber Pass, convenient to the Pak-Afghan border. Peshawar has evolved into one of Pakistan's most ethnically and linguistically diverse cities, which means lots of gunfire.
High Court in April.
"This resolution demands the government to protect the illusory sovereignty of Pakistain, the international law and enforce the judgment of the Peshawar High Court as soon as possible," it says.
Quoting excerpts from the judgment, the resolution says that the court had declared that Article 199 of the constitution "put this court under tremendous obligation to safeguard and protect the life and property of the citizens of Pakistain and any person for the time being in Pakistain, being fundamental rights".