Senate condemns Indian army chief’s statement against Pakistan

Islamabad: The Senate on Monday strongly condemned Indian army chief’s statement and its denial for resumption of dialogue initiated by Prime Minister Imran Khan.
The armed forces of Pakistan and its people are not afraid from Indian army chief threatening statement, adding that any offensive move against Pakistan will be retaliated with full force, the Senate body made it clear.
Minister of Information and Broadcasting Fawad Chaudhry said that the Indian government wanted to divert the public attention from its own weaknesses as the Modi government is being gravely criticized for its alleged involvement in mega financial scam in its jet deal with France.
Former Senate chairman Raza Rabbani said two recently happened incidents are worth discussing and the whole Senate wants to bring them under discussion: Indian army chief threatening statement and the Modi government denial for resumption of dialogue.
While condemning Indian army chief statement, Raza Rabbani said the Indian government and army chief should not forget that we as a nation are stand by with our army and any Indian offensive move will be responded strongly.
He said if India imposed a war on us the whole nation will be an iron wall against Indian forces. The former Senate chief further said it is the matter of great concern that the new government since it assumed charge emphasizing on peace dialogue with India but the Indian government has broken all the previous records of denial.
Rabbani added no one is against resumption of dialogue with India but it should not forget that Indian forces have broke all previous records of its brutal actions against the innocent people of Jammu and Kashmir. No other example than Israel against Palestine can be seen in this connection.
He said that there should be a debate on the country’s foreign and economic policies. Raza Rabbani further added that some external powers were trying to make India a regional hegemon but we want to make them clear that India can never be a regional hegemon.
Criticizing Prime Minister Imran Khan, he said the prime minister has visited Saudi Arabia which is a clear depiction of a change in Pakistan’s foreign policy but he has been failed to take the Upper House into confidence.
Meanwhile, Leader of the Upper House on Monday said the country is facing major issues in connection with circular deficit, adding that measures are gravely needed to resolve them.
The circular deficit will be increased to 257 during the current fiscal year. He said the country, instead of producing electricity from thermal, will have to adopt alternative ways, including solar power. He further said there is dire need to stop power theft and to ensure smooth supply of power in the country.
He said this while presenting a special report on Pakistan’s circular deficits.
The leader of the House said the issue of circular deficit is grave in nature and it has captured the country economy. He further said the trust deficit is regularly increasing.
Shibli informed the house that the previous government paid Rs470 billion circular deficit which has now crossed the figure of Rs613 billion.
The leader of the house further said the past government’s major focus was to produce electricity whereas the work on better distribution and transmission lines was taken aside.