Govt should call APC before deciding on Yemen: Zardari

KARACHI: Former president and co-chairman of the Pakistan People’s Party, Asif Ali Zardari, has said that the federal government should take parliament and all the parliamentary parties into confidence before taking any decision on the situation evolving in the troubled Middle Eastern country, Yemen.
While meeting the chief of the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F), Maulana Fazlur Rehman here at Bilawal House on Saturday, the former president Zardari suggested to the government to first convene an all-parties conference (APC) before taking a decision on the situation in Yemen.
Zardari said the government was under obligation to reach a consensus among the political forces concerned for adopting a unified strategy of the State of Pakistan regarding the volatile situation in Yemen. The PPP co-chairman demanded of the government to ensure the immediate and safe return of Pakistani citizens stuck in the troubled state. Asif Ali Zardari said he will consult other political parties in this regard.
The former president also said on the occasion that the government had taken an undemocratic step by adopting a decision to conduct local government polls in cantonment areas in the coming months on a non-party basis. He said the Pakistan People’s Party would also consult all the political parties concerned on the issue of party-less local bodies’ polls in the cantonment areas. He said the local govt polls in cantonment boards should be held on a party basis so that the people living in cantonment areas are able to secure their due constitutional and legal rights regarding choosing their representatives for the local govt system.
Speaking on the occasion, the JUI-F chief agreed with the views of Zardari on the situation in Yemen, saying that the government should take all the political parties into confidence before taking any decision.
Fazlur Rehman said that local government elections in the country should be held on the basis of political parties as per the provisions of the Constitution.
Both the political leaders concurred that they would continue to be in contact on political and governance issues of mutual interest. Both leaders discussed the current political situation in the country and the regional situation.
Meanwhile, MQM chief Altaf Hussain and former President Asif Ali Zardari had a telephonic conversation and discussed the current situation in Yemen and Saudi Arabia.
Altaf, during the talk, demanded that an all parties conference be called on behalf of the PPP to take a decision through consensus on either to join hands with Saudi Arabia on Yemen or not.
Altaf said the decision in this regard should be in the larger interest of Pakistan.
Both the leaders also discussed the present political situation of the country and inquired about the health and welfare of each other.
Asim Yasin adds: Pakistan Muslim League (PML) President and former Prime Minister Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain on Saturday said that Saudi Arabia is also our country, and every Muslim is duty bound to protect the Haramain Sharifain. He said the OIC should take immediate effective steps to save the Middle East from war.
Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain emphasized on seeking a just solution to the Yemen dispute through the Arab League and OIC and expressed the confidence that the ruler of Saudi Arabia Shah Salman bin Abdul Aziz Al-Saud possesses leadership and statesmanship capabilities that will enable him to succeed in solving this crisis in a commendable manner.
He said that every Pakistani was grateful and obliged to the Saudi royal family and its people for the open support and help Saudi Arabia has extended to Pakistan in every difficult time and regards it as his duty to fully support Saudi Arabia in this hour.
Ch Shujaat Hussain pointedly stated that Pakistan has always played an effective role over and above sectarianism to stop Muslims from internal conflict and bloodshed and the present govt should also work with the same spirit. Expressing heartfelt sympathies for Pakistanis stranded in Yemen he said that the govt should pay full attention to their help and evacuation and take special measures for their earliest possible return.
Our Sukkur correspondent adds: Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly Syed Khursheed Ahmad Shah, referring to the Middle East situation said Saudi Arabia, instead of becoming part of the Yemen war, should resolve the issue through talks. The Government of Pakistan, he said, instead of supporting the Saudis in the Yemen conflict, should advise Saudi Arabia to resolve the issue through negotiations. He said this is not the time for political gain and politicians should play a mature role.
He added there is a prevailing political confrontation between the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM). Khursheed Shah said this while talking to media persons here on Saturday.
He said Imran Khan is not a mature politician, while the political clash between the PTI and the PML-N will lead to instability in the country.
The PPP leader said Imran Khan is not a serious politician and it is his habit to change his political statements every now and then. Shah pointed out that Imran loved the MQM when it helped the PTI in its attack on the PTV.
Later, he loved it when the government supported the PTI in forming the government in KP, but now he has turned against it. This is bad and stupid politics and only reflects the unhealthy side of democracy.
He said democracy helps institutions in resolving issues. He said it is the prime duty of the politicians to protect the rights of the people who are victims of poverty and the price-hike.
He said the government instead of taking part in the Saudi war should focus on the issues of the country and advise Saudi Arabia to reduce tension through dialogue. He said the opposition parties will also help the government in convincing Saudi Arabia and Yemen to resolve the issues through talks.
He said if there is foreign aggression on Saudi Arabia’s borders then Pakistan would definitely be there to defend it but if there is a confrontation between two Muslim countries, matters should be resolved through negotiations as it would only divide Muslims.