Islam & Pakistan! Technology & Me!
The Kerry Lugar Bill has been Signed
Democracy is for people’s rights and freedom of expression. Democracy is about protecting national interests in light of the aspirations of the people. And in total disrespect of the will of the people of Pakistan, the American President has formally signed the Kerry-Lugar Bill and it now stands as ‘law’. In total defiance of the Pakistani reaction, the President has not even included what is called a ‘signing statement’ to the bill.
The debate in the National Assembly of Pakistan had not even been completed when Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi hurriedly flew back to Washington to find a settlement to the issue. It now seems that he only flew back to avoid facing severe criticism back home as his visit resulted in nothing but an ‘explanatory statement’ which, according to MNA Ms. Marvi Memon, further stresses upon the very objectionable clauses on ‘Regional cooperation’ and on Pakistan’s nuclear profile.
We have to note that the United States has categorically told Pakistani officials that a single word in the controversial bill will not be changed.
Qureshi called the explanatory statement “historic.” But lawmakers frequently put comments and documents – even congratulatory notes for local sports teams — into the congressional record. They do not have the force of law.
Source: The Boston Globe
Taking on the only ray of hope that we are left with – this is law for the USA – and it is up to Pakistan to accept the aid with these strict conditions attached or to reject it outright.
Below is the press release from MNA Ms. Marvi Memon of the PML-Q, by far the strongest and most appropriate expressing the feelings of the Pakistani nation by a Parliamentarian:
“The most controversial clause in the bill is the one pertaining to nuclear proliferation that entails giving US ‘direct access to Pakistani nationals.’ The explanation given in the note is unacceptable because it wants ‘cooperative efforts’ to combat proliferation to continue. This cooperation mentioned is intrusive since it demands ‘direct access’. Moreover, the AQ Khan chapter is closed. The scientist admitted guilt, served time, and his network has been dismantled. To perpetuate this event, like the Kerry-Lugar bill clause does, is a disservice to Pakistan and an attempt to create a permanent excuse to blackmail Pakistan.
Pakistan is a responsible nuclear state and does not wish to proliferate ever, but this does not mean that we agree to this kind of sharing of information. Moreover, further nuclear expansion is deemed a violation of the conditions under which aid will be dispersed annually. The bill also suggests that the Pakistani government curtail the country’s strategic and nuclear programs by stopping funding for them.
The next lethal clause refers to Pakistan accepting that our military and intelligence agencies had in the past given support to terrorist organizations. The explanatory note does not delete this admission. No state can accept a clause that holds it liable to promoting state terrorism. This would be highly irresponsible for any government to accept and would open the doors for further accusations from India.
The other issue pertains to the fact that President Obama’s regional security strategy will include working with ‘relevant governments and organizations in the region and elsewhere.’ Nowhere in the explanatory note is this deleted; in fact, it is reinforced because the note states that the section is meant to develop a ‘regional security plan for how the United States can best work with its partners.’
It is exactly this kind of regional strategy that will be in conflict with Pakistan’s national security interests since it could include RAW/ MOSSAD and many other unfriendly groups and organizations.
These are only a few examples in the Kerry-Lugar Bill [KLB] explanatory note that continue to make KLB lethal. Therefore, patriotic Pakistanis cannot truly accept that the KLB will not ‘dictate the national policy or impinge on the sovereignty of Pakistan in any way’.
It is also not clear how these are not considered to be conditions for aid. The aid will stop if cooperation on nuclear proliferation access is demanded and not given. The aid will stop if the regional security strategy so desired by the US is not implemented by Pakistan.
Pakistan needs the aid but not at the cost of our independence. As such, the aid coming through the KLB should be rejected in totality or else Pakistanis will be held hostage to US micromanagement and interference not just in this government’s tenure but also in the future.”
The opposition has often been accused of being a ‘friendly’ one in Pakistan, justifying the frequent meetings of PML-N leader Mian Nawaz Sharif with Richard Holbrooke, President Obama’s special envoy for Afgahnistan and Pakistan. Mr Sharif has left it for the parliament to decide the fate of the bill. One that has already come into effect as law in the United States of America.
Imran Khan has been quoted as saying:
The bill would not benefit the people because 40 to 50 per cent of the aid would be taken by the advisers and the rest would be spent on the rulers. He said that the Pakistan Muslim League-Q government had taken much larger aid than the one being promised under the Kerry-Lugar Bill but had not compromised on the national sovereignty.
We, the people of Pakistan, condemn the signing of this bill and reject all allegations that have been indirectly thrown at us through certain clauses in the KLB bill. We do NOT want your aid.
The politics and the government of US loyalists in Pakistan MUST now end. Period.
–
To hell with this kind of democracy!
Why the f*** are we spending so much on the MNAs and Parliament when they are nothing more than lame ducks? I dont care if Obama signs it, what bothers me is that we are accepting those conditions. Calling it historic is just a cover up. It wont be long before people find out this ‘historic’ lie.