Washington: Notwithstanding Pakistani Army`s
concern, President Barack Obama is on course to sign the Bill providing for US aid to that country in which some conditions have been attached.
The Kerry-Lugar Bill was passed by the US House of
Representatives and the Senate last week and it has now been
forwarded to the White House for Obama to sign it into law,
for which he has 10 days under the constitutional provisions.
The US administration is reportedly under pressure from
certain close quarters of Pakistan to address their concerns
before Obama signs it into law. The Bill has provisions which
link Pakistan`s progress in its fight against terrorism and
not letting its soil to be used against its neighbours and the
west to any military aid to Pakistan.
Earlier Pakistani Army chief General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani
had a meeting with his top commanders at Army headquarters in
Rawalpindi in which the officers expressed concern over some
"strings attached to the Bill undermining the country`s
sovereignty".
The Bill has also sparked furious debate in the Pakistani
parliament. The opposition PML-N has alleged that "each and
every page of the bill is reflective of the insulting attitude
towards Pakistan".
However, informed sources told PTI that the signing of
the Kerry Lugar bill has not been delayed by the US President.
The Office of Management of Budget takes five days to prepare
the bill for signing and it is being worked, sources said.
Bureau Report
