Fazl warns govt against Nato supplies restoration

ISLAMABAD: JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman Friday warned the government against the restoration of Nato supplies, saying there would be no resumption through the air or land route.

Addressing a press conference here at his residence, the JUI-F chief rejected the impression that the Parliament had paved the way for re-opening of Nato supply routes via Pakistan. “The recommendations of the Parliamentary Committee on National Security (PCNS) forbid the use of Pakistan territory for all types of Nato supplies,” he said.As the JUI-F clarified its position with regards the resumption of Nato supplies, the major opposition party, PML-N, is yet to come up with any clarification on the issue.

Flanked by Maulana Abdul Ghafoor Haideri and Maulana Attaur Rehman, Maulana Fazlur Rehman maintained that following the adoption of recommendations of PCNS, the government will also not facilitate restoration of Nato supplies on an administrative basis.

The Maulana said his party would strongly resist granting permission for restoration Nato supplies for lethal and non-lethal goods.To a question, he said the prime minister had given his word to implement the recommendations of PCNS as okayed by the parliament and he should fulfill his commitment through practical demonstration.

He pointed out that it was the JUI-F that emphasised doing away with past verbal agreements with the United States and Nato countries. ìNow the government is not bound to follow any verbal agreements with the United States,î he said, adding that his party also forced the government to withdraw earlier recommendations like allowing the activities of foreign agents in the country.

He said the recommendations adopted by the parliament had set the direction for the country’s foreign policy and now the nature of Pakistan’s relations with the United States would be quite different. “Pakistan is now no more any ally of the United States as it was after verbal agreements between the two countries,” he said.

Fazlur Rehman maintained that any terms of engagement with the United States would be strictly according to PCNS recommendations.

“Every new agreement will now be made according to clause no 8 of the recommendations and the government will have to face strong resistance if it tries to act otherwise,” he maintained.He expressed hope that consensus would also be evolved on the Domestic Violence Bill.