The Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) on Wednesday submitted a resolution in the National Assembly urging the government to 'immediately' call a joint session of the parliament to discuss the issue of Pakistan's agreement to join a Saudi-led military alliance of 41 nations.
Submitted by PTI MNAs Shireen Mazari, Asad Umar and Arif Alvi, the resolution says PTI expresses "grave concern" over the government's decision to become a part of the Saudi coalition "ostensibly to fight terrorism" without taking the parliament into confidence.
It has been learned from the country's past, the resolution says, that it is not in Pakistan's national interest to get involved in foreign wars as the people of the country are "still suffering the consequences of such involvements in the past".
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The PTI leaders referenced the resolution unanimously adopted by the parliament in April 2015, saying all political parties had agreed that Pakistan would remain neutral in the Yemen conflict.
While Saudi Arabia and Pakistan share historic ties of brotherhood, the PTI is concerned that the government agreed to join the Saudi-led military alliance "without knowing the parameters or terms of reference of such an alliance", they said.
The resolution said Article 40 of the Constitution calls upon the Pakistani state to encourage the settlement of international disputes by peaceful means and "strengthen fraternal relations among Muslim countries based on Islamic unity".
The PTI demanded that the government consult the parliament and develop a consensus on the issue before making any decision regarding the alliance.
The party had last month opposed the government’s decision to allow former chief of army staff (COAS) retd Gen Raheel Sharif to assume the command of the Saudi military coalition.
The proposed military coalition has reportedly been envisaged to serve as a platform for security cooperation, including provision of training, equipment and troops.
