UN probe not to pose threat to nuclear assets: Rabbani

ISLAMABAD : The Leader of the House in Senate, Mian Raza Rabbani said on Thursday that probe by the United Nations into the assassination of Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto would not pose any threat to the nuclear assets of the country.
Speaking during the debate on Foreign Policy, the Leader of the House rejected the words of Senator Mushahid Hussain Sayed who, during his speech feared that the UN probe could have put the nuclear assets on risk.
“Benazir Bhutto was assassinated in Liaqat Bagh, Rawalpindi, not anywhere near Kahuta, so how it could be threatening for the security of nuclear assets of Pakistan,” he commented.
He criticized the foreign policy of the previous government saying that Pakistan had to face tough times during the days when Dr A.Q Khan was implicated in the scam of the nuclear assets.
He said the UN commission is aimed at probing into the intentions and involvement of internal or external hands in the national tragedy, adding that it has nothing to do with the security of nuclear assets.
“The nuclear assets of Pakistan are in safe hands and no one would be given access to them,” Senator Raza Rabbani assured.
He said the terms and conditions of the formation of the commission would revolve around only the investigation of the hands and factors involved in the assassination of the national leader.
He clarified that Pakistan People’s Party is not enjoying the extraordinary friendship of the president rather he said the party is having relationship with him within the constitutional limits.
He said the Foreign Office is devising the policies setting aside all the international influence and every policy would be made to safeguard the national interests.
The senator vowed that Pakistan would never allow any foreign power to make an assault on the soil of Pakistan. “We have always been opposing the intrusion of foreign powers on Pakistan’s soil,” he remarked.
He condemned the abuse of human rights being committed in Guantanamobay Prison and demanded that it should be closed down.
The senator reiterated that he would standby his bill demanding the presentation of any foreign agreement before the Parliament for endorsement.
Senator Professor Khurshid Ahmed said that the foreign policy of the previous government is implanted in practical terms which should be revised.
He said the role of Foreign Office has been remained limited while formulating the foreign policy of Pakistan that is why the policy had been made to safeguard some vested interests ignoring the national interests.
Professor Khurshid said the foreign policy should be initiated from Foreign Office and should not be finalized by the cabinet but the Parliament.
He said the alliance with the US in war on terror has proved war against our own Muslim brethren and was aimed just to address the vested interests of the United States. It was the war on terror which has made our friends our enemies, he added.
The senator urged the government that the phenomenon of terrorism should be resolved through dialogue and the root causes should be addressed and grievances should be redressed.