Will the parliament’s outbursts of national pride lead to outright rejection of KL-Bill?

The National Assembly is set to hold debate on Kerry-Lugar bill, the US aid tripling annual civilian aid for Pakistan, during its proceedings beginning this evening today.

At the same time, the Kerry-Lugar bill is expected to consume a fair share of the corps commanders’ time, when they meet in Rawalpindi on Wednesday. There are indications that the US aid legislation is likely to find little support at the General Headquarters and may ultimately sour relations between the armed forces and the government, which favours the bill and claims it as a major foreign policy success.

The certifications include confirmation that the government continues to cooperate in investigating nuclear proliferators; is making sustained efforts against terrorists, including blocking support by elements within the military and intelligence network for terrorists, taking action against terrorist bases and acting on intelligence about high-value targets provided to it; and that the security forces are not subverting the political and judicial processes.

President Asif Ali Zardari rejected criticism that the conditions in the Kerry-Lugar Bill undermined the country’s sovereignty. The president said the bill was the first Pakistan aid legislation that did not require U.S. presidential certifications every year. ‘It only required certification by the Secretary of State that Pakistan was moving along the path of democracy, nuclear non- proliferation and drugs control. ‘Who in Pakistan under the present democratic dispensation would disagree with these goals?’ he asked.

Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani hailing the Bill said, “The passage of the Kerry-Lugar Bill is a big success of the government as it is for the first time that the United States has supported a democratic government in Pakistan instead of dictatorship,” he said while addressing a meeting of the parliamentary party of the coalition partners of the government.

Opposition Leader in the National Assembly Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan, while endorsing the GHQ views, dubbed the Kerry-Lugar Bill as a complete failure of the incumbent government and its lobbyists sitting in the US. “Besides other questions relating to terms and conditions, the language used in the bill about Pakistan and its institutions is highly objectionable that we, the members of parliament, must reject while adopting a collective approach,” Chaudhry Nisar told. Responding to a counter question related to the Pakistan armed forces that are already paying sacrifices in the war on terror, the opposition leader said the bill was actually targeting our institutions, including the Army.

Meanwhile, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has advised the critics of the bill to read it carefully. She said the bill would help Pakistan improve education and other social areas. The US was in a serious engagement with Pakistan, she added. US Senator John Kerry said the manuscript of Kerry Lugar Bill has been sent to President Barack Obama for signature. US Senator said this Bill is a clear sign of direct relations with the people of Pakistan. “Pakistan will be given $7.5 billions aid under KL-Bill. We want good relationship with the government of Pakistan.” He said this Bill would not harm the sovereignty of Pakistan.

While the Pakistani media and opposition leaders are going ballistic about how the Kerry-Lugar bill impairs Pakistan’s sovereignty, Indian government and the media riling Obama Administration for having given Pakistan unqualified support and assistance. A former Indian intelligence chief observed, both the Indian lobby in US and the Indian government fought to reduce, if not prevent any aid been given to Pakistan. In articles and on television, Indians have admitted that the main reason they failed was due to the tremendous lobbying and diplomatic efforts of the Pakistani government.

Rport By DOWN NEWS