NAVEED BUTT

ISLAMABAD: Paksitan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) on Thursday raised serious questions in the National Assembly on joint military exercises of United States (US), Pakistan and Israel in Nevada and asked the Defense Minister to respond to the House.

While raising questions in the Lower House of the Parliament, Dr Shireen Mazari said that Pakistani fighter planes participated in military exercises with the US and Israel air forces.

She said, "Pakistan military force is being discredited by participating in exercises with Israel. Pakistan does not recognize Israel then why military is doing exercises with it. The US also stopped $ 300 military aid to Pakistan. Is the US our friend or enemy?"

She said that the Defense Minister will have to reply to the House regarding these questions.

Earlier, responding to a calling attention notice moved by Muhammad Jamaluddin and others regarding exclusion of various development schemes of the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) by the government under 'Rationalization Policy', Minister for States and Frontier Regions Abdul Qadir Baloch told the House that the purpose of the policy is maximum utilization of the available resources.

He said that the policy is being revised with the consultation of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Governor. We are with the people of tribal area.

He said under the demand of the people of the area the rationalization policy is being reviewed and changes will be made according to the aspirations of the people of FATA.