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Pakistani Senate Chairman slams U.S., West "double standard"

Xinhua, July 26, 2016 Adjust font size:

Pakistani Senate Chairman Mian Raza Rabbani, on Tuesday slammed the "double standards adopted by U.S and western powers," saying the contemporary upheaval and turmoil in Middle East is "due to the Western policy of regime change."

"The criticism by West that Asian integration is not possible due to cultural, religious and social diversity is not true as we believe that the strength of Asia is its diversity and with diversity comes the unity," the Chairman Senate said at his opening remarks at meeting of Standing Committee on economic and sustainable development Affairs of Asian Parliamentary Assembly in Islamabad.

"The future of Asia lies in the hands of Asian people," he told the two-day meeting being hosted by the Senate of Pakistan.

He said that being a Pakistani he witnessed the "Western double standards" when they politically and economically supported the dictatorial regimes in Pakistan and maintained silence over the unlawful prosecution of political workers.

He proposed establishment of 7-8 regional groups of the Asian countries to chalk out the modalities achieved the objectives of Asian parliament. These groups then shall share their reports on the upcoming plenary session of the Asian Parliamentary Assembly.

"It is imperative for us to look at things in the right dimension," he said and urged the member countries to move forward for achieving the goal of Asian Parliament -- "Asian Integration."

Senator Chhit Kim Yeat, representative of APA President from Cambodia said in his inaugural remarks that in order to realize the ultimate goal of Asian Parliamentary Assembly, that is, "Integration in Asia," we have to start from somewhere, possibly from Asian Integrated Energy Market.

He added that the role of parliament is essential in improving economic, social and cultural sectors to improve the human development and promote the Human Development Index as an index for the sustainable development goals.

Chairman of Pakistan's Senate Defence Committee, Senator Mushahid Hussein Syed, said that the balance of power is shifting from West to Asia and future lies with Asia. He said that the time has come when decision regarding Asia should be made within Asia rather than countries of Europe and America. Endit