ISLAMABAD: National Assembly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq has said that Pakistan strongly desires peace and stability in the region and beyond, and support people’s struggle for self-determination in Jammu Kashmir and anywhere in the world.
He said this while speaking to British lawmaker Tasmeena Sheikh who called on him at the Parliament House on Tuesday. While appreciating the contributions of Pakistani diasporas to the British economy and society, the speaker said that Pakistan was proud of its community in UK. He stressed on the need for collaboration in uplifting quality of education in Pakistan.
He said that Pakistan was keen to benefit from UK’s expertise in education, science and technology and health. He urged the need for regular exchanges of parliamentary delegations and friendship groups to strengthen bilateral relations. He urged UK to highlight the Kashmir cause at various international forums and expose the Indian high-handedness and human rights abuse in the disputed state of Jammu Kashmir.
While referring to principled stance of Pakistan on Jammu Kashmir, the speaker said that he pulled back Pakistan from hosting 61st Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference, as its chosen president when India agitated for extending invitation to the Legislative Assembly. The Pakistani parliament could not issue an invitation to the Legislative Assembly of Indian-held Jammu Kashmir to attend the conference, as it would have been in violation of the UN Security Council’s resolutions.
The speaker highlighted that principled stance of Pakistan on Kashmir was more important than hosting Commonwealth parliamentary conference. Tasmeena Sheikh endorsed NA speakers’ proposal for partnership in uplifting quality of education in Pakistan and said that Britain was Pakistan’s partner in strengthening parliamentary democracy in Pakistan. She appreciated Pakistan’s sacrifices in the global war on terror.
The British lawmaker said that Britain acknowledges contributions of Pakistan to regional peace and security. She also underlined the need for furthering inter-parliamentary relations.
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