hulaku
09-13-2009, 04:48 AM
ISLAMABAD, Sept. 12 (Xinhua) -- A petition, challenging the expansion of the United States embassy in Islamabad, was filed in the Supreme Court of Pakistan on Saturday.
Pakistani media has been reporting that the United States plans to deploy a large number of marines with the plan to expand its embassy in Islamabad.
U.S. officials insist that the expansion and more recruitments in the embassy staff is a must in view of the increase of U.S. aid to Pakistan.
A prominent lawyer Barrister Zafarullah filed the petition in the Supreme Court, saying that the U.S. embassy was making efforts to get a land of 18 acres (7.3 hectares) while the embassy has already possessed 28 acres (11.3 hectares) of land.
He said that Saudi Arabia was also trying to get 700,000 acres (283,400 hectares) of land in the country.
"Giving away Pakistani land to U.S. and Arab countries in this fashion is a threat for the stability and sovereignty of the country," the petitioner maintained.
He further added that the purpose of giving the land to U.S. embassy was to establish American military base over there.
He maintained that such a big land was enough even to construct a military airport. He disclosed that Pakistan had given access to America to data of Pakistan Telecommunication Authority from which information about Pakistani citizens could be attained.
"The rights of Pakistani citizens are compromised. Such activities should be stopped," the petitioner demanded.
Pakistani officials say that several other countries have also requested expansion of their embassies in Islamabad.
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2009-09/12/content_12041649.htm
Pakistani media has been reporting that the United States plans to deploy a large number of marines with the plan to expand its embassy in Islamabad.
U.S. officials insist that the expansion and more recruitments in the embassy staff is a must in view of the increase of U.S. aid to Pakistan.
A prominent lawyer Barrister Zafarullah filed the petition in the Supreme Court, saying that the U.S. embassy was making efforts to get a land of 18 acres (7.3 hectares) while the embassy has already possessed 28 acres (11.3 hectares) of land.
He said that Saudi Arabia was also trying to get 700,000 acres (283,400 hectares) of land in the country.
"Giving away Pakistani land to U.S. and Arab countries in this fashion is a threat for the stability and sovereignty of the country," the petitioner maintained.
He further added that the purpose of giving the land to U.S. embassy was to establish American military base over there.
He maintained that such a big land was enough even to construct a military airport. He disclosed that Pakistan had given access to America to data of Pakistan Telecommunication Authority from which information about Pakistani citizens could be attained.
"The rights of Pakistani citizens are compromised. Such activities should be stopped," the petitioner demanded.
Pakistani officials say that several other countries have also requested expansion of their embassies in Islamabad.
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2009-09/12/content_12041649.htm