Pak parliamentary panel endorses govt's strong stand to boycott Bonn Conference over NATO attack

Islamabad, Dec 3 (ANI): The Pakistan parliamentary committee on national security has endorsed the cabinet's decision to boycott a crucial conference in Bonn, Germany on the future of Afghanistan in protest against the death of Pakistani soldiers in a NATO aerial attack.

The bicameral parliamentary panel was tasked to frame Pakistan's new terms of engagement in the US-led war against terrorism after last week's attacks in Mohmand Agency. The 17-member parliamentary committee, headed by Senator Raza Rabbani had representatives from all parties with presence in either of the two houses of parliament.

Prime Minister Yousif Raza Gilani, Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar, and Director-General of Military Operations, General Ahmad Shuja Pasha, briefed the committee during a closed-door session.

"We have been told that the US will be vacating Shamsi Airbase soon. We wanted to know the status of their (US) bases in Jacobabad and Pasni, but no concrete answer was given," The Express Tribune quoted a participant of the meeting, as saying.

In a press briefing, the Information Minister Dr. Firdous Ashiq Awan said the committee had endorsed the decisions taken by the federal cabinet and defence committee of the cabinet not to attend the Bonn Conference.

Nothing was mentioned whether the suspension of NATO's supply routes was permanent, butone of the participants said that the issue was part of the committee's agenda.

"The authorities (military) could not give any satisfactory answers over continued drone attacks," another member said.

"The committee has been tasked to formulate the overall terms of reference in 10-15 days that would be put forward before the joint session of the parliament," a treasury member said, adding that the next meeting of the committee would be held on December 8. (ANI)