Ch. Pervaiz Elahi asks US for policy review

PML-Q central leader Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi Monday said the US will have to revise its policy keeping in mind ground realities and aspirations of the people if it wanted to succeed in the war against terror.

He was briefing media about his meeting with US Senators. Pervaiz said that he had asked the US to handover drone technology to Pakistan, saying Indian domination in the region would not be accepted at any cost. He said the US delegation was told that there will be no compromise on Pakistan’s integrity and sovereignty.

The US delegation consisted of Jeanne Shaheen, Kay Hagan, Mark Begich, Mark Udall and Thomas R Carper. US Consulate Officer in Lahore Bryn D Hunt, Faisal Saleh Hayat, Senator SM Zafar, Makhdoom Khusro Bakhtyar and Opposition Leader in Punjab Assembly Chaudhry Zaheer was also present there.

He said the PML-Q leadership had asked the US delegation to allocate a substantial package for IDPs, adding nearly 1.3 million people had been displaced. He claimed that the he had also discussed the issue of Pakistan’s nuclear assets during his meeting with US senators.

The PML-Q leader said that the US delegation told us that the apprehensions of PML-Q were well-founded and that the US was reviewing policy. He said that the US delegation has been asked to keep in mind ground realities.

Pervaiz said the Kashmir issue was also discussed and the PML-Q had recalled the statement of US President Barack Obama on Kashmir issue. He said the Indian domination would not be accepted. PML-Q leader said that the issue of Dr Aafia Saddique was also discussed in the meeting and the PML-Q asked for her safe return to Pakistan. Talking on Swat operation, the veteran politician said that it was our own issue and there was insurgency in the name of Islam and the All Parties Conference had supported it.

India ‘conspirator-in-chief’ of Swat operation, Ch. Shujaat Hussain

Lahore, May 24 (ANI): Pakistan Muslim League-Qaid (PML-Q) Chief Chaudhury Shujaat Hussain has blamed India for the Swat military operation.

Addressing a press conference here, Hussain called India as ‘conspirator-in-chief’ of the Swat operation, and asked the entire nation to stand behind the armed forces.

“The armed forces are fighting a war for the survival of the country, and they must be supported. India is the conspirator-in-chief. Army is fighting an insurgency orchestrated by India. The situation demands national unity and it must be reflected in every one’s words and actions”, The Nation quoted Hussain, as saying.

Referring to the ’stringed’ US aid that asks Pakistan to maintain certain benchmarks, Hussain said conditions linked to aid like accepting the Indian nuclear hegemony and compromising on national interest must be rejected by Islamabad.

He also urged the government to start preparing a comprehensive reconstruction plan for the thousands of people who have been displaced in the Swat Valley due to the military operation to facilitate their return. (ANI)