Senate body to support Qureshi on Davis immunity row
ISLALABAD: The Senate’s Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs is all set to take the PPP to task while backing Shah Mehmood Qureshi on the status of diplomatic immunity to US citizen Raymond Davis.
The panel is headed by opposition Senator Saleem Saifullah Khan who said on Tuesday:
“We have sought a detailed report from Foreign Office (FO) as the US official could not be given free hand to keep on killing innocent people.”
The FO’s report, ‘irresponsible’ statements, and safeguarding the country’s interests amid the situation emerged involving Raymond Davis are the key areas to be discussed in the Standing Committee session.
“Qureshi’s absence from the federal cabinet has left the government with no worthwhile minister of his caliber,” the panel chairman Saleem Saifullah Khan said.
Lauding the ex-foreign minister’s relentless contribution on external front, he said President Zardari and PM Gilani maintained the incapable and corrupt ministers instead of expelling them.
“Qureshi was alone in PM Gilani’s team, who not only proved to be free of charges but also emerged to be the man of honest and upright character in discharging his assignments.”
The ex-foreign minister, he said, adopted a principled position on changing his portfolio as well as on Raymond Davis case.
“His preference to quit instead of accepting another portfolio has brought another credit for him.”
No foreigner, he said, could be permitted to take the law in his hand and kill innocent people. “
Although we have relations with the United States yet the life of our citizen is as equal as of an American.”
Saleem Saifullah had all-out sympathies with Qureshi. “The PPP bosses have played a final stroke to purge the cabinet of those carrying reputation.” Zardari and Gilani, he said, should have removed the ministers who are carrying various charges rather letting the men like former foreign minister to go. “I think Hina Rabbani is given the portfolio of State Minister (foreign affairs) just to fulfill a formality on papers. “External affairs, he said, is a sensitive subject and a key area for any country to protect national interests globally.”
To a query, he said a diplomatic immunity to Davis would lead nothing but a source to encourage him and other foreigners to kill more people. “We have also taken in consideration other aspects as not only two people were killed but widow of one of them also committed suicide.”
The PML Like-Minded chief said he would convene the Standing Committee meeting within days after the FO hands over a report explaining official position as to whether immunity can be given, under what circumstances and as to whether the government is paving way for such a move.
Saifullah regretted the FO has an extremely slow process to move forward. “I asked its authorities to submit a report but they have yet to come up with a response despite passage of one week,” he elaborates.
He expressed his dismay over the recent conflicting and controversial statements on part of the PPP and its government functionaries on Davis case. “Fauzia Wahab thinks after she speaks, irrespective of whether her words prove to be destructive for the country.”
The National Assembly’s Committee (on foreign affairs) is headed by ANP President Asfandyar Wali as he postponed for more than twice its meetings. Asfandyar Wali is expected to follow the government line since his party is in amalgamation with the PPP in Centre and three provinces, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Balochistan and Sindh.
Senate body to support Qureshi on Davis immunity row
