Those elected on symbol of Bat, would surely vote in favour
of budget
MULTAN - Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi said Saturday that Pakistan would invite foreign ministers of all Muslim countries in Islamabad in March next year to present the case of Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJ&K) for their active role to get the issue resolved.
Addressing a public meeting on his arrival at Multan, FM Qureshi said that Pakistan presented the case of Palestine against Israel’s attack in which many Palestinians were martyred and injured at United Nation through the platform of Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC). He said that while the session was in progress, protests had begun in several countries, which put pressure on Israel for ceasefire.
He added that in the meantime the foreign minister of Egypt informed that Israel agreed for ceasefire.
Beside this, FM said, Pakistan foreign policy grabbed another achievement by getting a resolution passed in Geneva meeting through which an inquiry commission has been formed to investigate involvement of Israel in war crimes.
The foreign minister said that Israel started attacks on Palestinian people when they were going to offer prayers in Al-Aqsa mosque on 27th of Ramazan. He said that when Pakistan get this news, Prime Minister Imran Khan and he (Qureshi) were going to Jeddah after performing Umera. He said that Pakistan gave quick response and contacted OIC on 28th of Ramazan to play their role to stop Israel’s violence on Palestine.
FM Qureshi said, at the UN, he highlighted the similarities between Palestine and IIOJ&K as both nations were facing attacks, martyrdom, injuries, communication blackout and other human right violations.
He said that after the UN session, “I faced allegation of anti-semitism but the whole nation stood by me through social media platform and defended me by quoting facts and figures.”
The foreign minister added that Pakistan was striving hard to ensure sustainable peace in Afghanistan and the world recognised the stance of Prime Minister Imran Khan for peace through dialogue in Afghanistan.
He said that he had a meeting with foreign minister of Afghanistan and China two days back and he briefed them about Pakistan’s stance for restoring peace in Afghanistan.
Reacting to the statement of Afghanistan’s National Security Advisor, FM Qureshi said that Pakistan had lost lives of 83,000 people besides losses worth billions of dollars but still some elements were putting different allegations on Pakistan.
He said that if National Security Advisor of Afghanistan continued statements against Pakistan, no Pakistani will shake hand with him not even talk to him. He said that international community must ask him to stop creating hurdles in restoration of peace in Afghanistan as the Afghan national security advisor was playing a role of spoiler.
He said that Pakistan was in FATF grey list since 2017 when Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf was not in power. He said that a meeting of Asia Pacific Group was held in which they said that Pakistan has achieved various recommendations which is a good sign. He said that next meeting of FATF was going to be held in June adding that there would be no reason to put Pakistan in grey list anymore. He said that Pakistan was moving towards the white list of FATF and in case of a fair decision, Pakistan would be in the white list in the next session.
FM Qureshi said that a group of different parties with name of Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) having different manifesto, different understandings, different slogans, was formed against the government just for their personal gains and to get relief in corruption cases. He said that the group was going to get to its logical end due to their own differences.
Qureshi also said that Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf government would introduce investment-friendly policies in the upcoming budget to improve the growth rate and provide maximum employment opportunities to people. While talking to media persons here, Qureshi remarked that the economic indicators were improving despite coronavirus. He stated that the growth rate dropped significantly in the neighbouring country (India) and about 10 million people faced unemployment, due to pandemic.
Responding to a question about inflation, Shah Mahmood Qureshi stated that the government was trying its best to improve productivity, expand growth and address the issue of inflation. He hoped that the government would control inflation within next few months. He, however, criticised the past governments for pursuing unrealistic policies and damaging the country’s economy. Opposition’s criticism on the issue of inflation, the Opposition should share its fair suggestions, said Qureshi and added that the government would consider their suggestions.
To another question about the support of angry PTI parliamentarian for the approval of the upcoming budget, Qureshi stated that the PTI government was not worried. Those who were elected on the symbol of Bat, would surely vote in favour of the budget.
About internal rifts in PML N, Qureshi stated that there was a clear rift between Shehbaz Sharif and Maryam Nawaz. Similarly, differences could also be observed in PPP, he said and stated that Senator Mustafa Nawaz Khokhar, also voiced on the policy of PPP during Senate polls. There was also a difference of opinion between PPP and PML N which also resulted in the division of the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM). PDM was a temporary alliance and it was bound to failure, said Qureshi.
About alleged corruption in the ring-road project, Qureshi stated that PTI government had zero tolerance against corruption. PTI’s manifesto is to hold corrupt people accountable, and it would continue the fair and free investigation in this regard, stated Qureshi. Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi stated that Pakistan wanted peace in Afghanistan as well as in the region. He, however, hinted that some elements were playing the role of spoiler in the peace process.
Responding to another question about the irrigation water issue, Qureshi stated that the provinces were availing water share as per water accord. He, however, stated that PPP was raising water issue to hide its bad governance especially in “Kacha” areas of Sindh.
The minister for foreign affairs stated that there was a similarity between issues of Palestine and Kashmir and he raised both issues at international forums. Pakistan role in following recommendations on FATF was also acknowledged by the Asian Pacific Group in its recent report. He hoped that Pakistan would be out of FATF’s grey list very soon.
Pakistan also wished to have good ties with neighbouring India. However, the Indian government will have to review its policy on Jammu and Kashmir. Jammu and Kashmir was an international dispute and it should be resolved as per resolutions of the United Nations.
About propaganda on social media against the country’s institutions, the FM stated that EU Disinfo lab had exposed India’s nefarious propaganda against Pakistan which aimed at creating internal unrest. India did not want to see Pakistan flourishing economically. Qureshi however lauded Pakistani youth for competing for the fake propaganda amicably.