ZULFIQAR AHMAD

ISLAMABAD: Through a unanimous resolution, the lawmakers in Senate on Monday strongly condemned and rejected US President Donald Trump's recognition of Jerusalem as capital of Israel, saying it exposed America's 'so-called position of an independent peace broker' across the globe.

The resolution was moved by Leader of the House in Senate Raja Zafarul Haq, which was unanimously adopted. The resolution stated that Senate of Pakistan strongly condemns and rejects unilateral announcement by Donald Trump to shift the US Embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem which is a flagrant violation of the International Law, UN Security Council Resolutions, specially Resolution Nos. 478 (1980) and 2334 (2016) and international norms.

The House took up the issue of Jerusalem by suspending its agenda of the day. Taking part in the debate, Opposition Leader in Senate Aitzaz Ahsan declared that it is the bad luck of the 21st centaury that a man like Trump was elected as the US president. He said that he is not against Jews but against Zionism; not against Hindus but against Hindutwa; not against Islam but against pan-Islamism, adding there should be no bar on anybody to practice whatever he believes in. "We must not impose our understanding of Islam on other Muslim, like the cleric which has been staging a sit-in at Faizabad, declaring no one else is Muslim except belonging to his school of thought," he said while referring to the recent sit-in staged by a hardliner cleric Khadim Rizvi.

Raja Zafarul Haq called for chalking out a strategy to face such challenges with the help of intellectuals throughout the Muslim world. The leader of the house who represents the prime minister in Senate showered praise on late military dictator Gen Ziaul Haq, who is considered to be his political godfather, for rendering great sacrifices to continue the nuclear program of the country after late Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto.

He called upon China to revisit its policy towards Pakistan as concerns are being raised about less shares in CPEC to Pakistan, adding if the concerns are not addressed, it may further aggravate the situation like Sri Lanka which has said that the agreement governing the controversial long-term lease of Hambantota port to a Chinese company would be renegotiated to ensure the best possible outcome for the country.

In their fiery speeches, majority of the senators proposed to boycott US products besides tearing US visas allotted to lawmakers in protest over Donald Trump's decision of recognizing Jerusalem as capital of Israel, and shifting US embassy to the disputed city.

However, Barrister Muhammad Ali Saif left all the his fellow senators red-faced by saying that boycotting US products is too far, at least tear apart the two years US visas which the US embassy has issued to the senators.

Senator Taj Haider called for holding an international conference on the issue of Jerusalem, saying all the peace-loving people including the Americans should be invited to the moot as Trump's decision does not represent the sentiments of all the people.

Through the resolution, the House expressed serious concern over implications of the decision for international peace and security, especially in the Middle East. It called upon the UN Security Council to take cognizance of this situation and take steps in accordance with the UN charter and a number of its own resolutions according to which establishment of settlements by Israel in the Palestinian territory, occupied since 1967 including East Jerusalem, has no legal validity. "The position taken by US President has exposed the so-called position of US as of independent peace broker and put a halt to the peace talks," it added. It called upon the US to revisit its decision as soon as possible to avoid the potentially grave repercussions in the region and beyond and to play its role to de-escalate the situation on the ground on the basis of international law, international humanitarian law and the previous agreements and obligations. It declared that all the revealed religions i.e. Judaism, Christianity and Islam claim their affiliation with the holy city of Jerusalem; however, the US President Trump through his announcement has tried to nullify the religious diversity present in the territory.

The House reiterated that any attempt to sabotage the peace process will be the darkest decision of the history and historical wrongs can never be lasting.

The resolution appreciated the stance taken by international community which rejected the position taken by US President, and it has isolated US at the international front.

The House also condemned the killings of innocent citizens at the hands of Israeli forces which prove that the US decision is an aggression, a declaration of war on Palestinians.