Islamabad: Pakistan’s parliament on Friday passed a resolution proposed by lawmakers from the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) in retaliation to a recent US resolution calling for an investigation into the February 8 elections, condemning the move and demanding US intervention in the “ongoing human rights violations” in Kashmir.
The resolution, introduced by PML-N Rep. Shaista Pervez Malik, condemned the US resolution passed overwhelmingly by the US House of Representatives on June 25 calling for a “full and independent investigation into allegations of interference and fraud in Pakistan’s February 2024 elections”, saying the resolution remained willfully ignorant about Pakistan’s electoral process.
The ministry said it considered the resolution passed by the US House of Representatives on Pakistan as a blatant attempt to interfere in the country’s internal affairs and that the National Assembly has taken it seriously.
“Such interference in Pakistan’s internal affairs is inappropriate and unbecoming of a world power. Such interference in our country’s internal affairs is unacceptable. It is not appropriate for any world power to interfere in the internal affairs of another country,” Malik added.
She also raised the issue of Kashmir in her speech, calling on the US Congress to pass a resolution on the “ongoing genocide in Gaza,” “grave human rights violations in Gaza and Kashmir,” and “state-sanctioned atrocities against minorities in India, particularly Muslims.”
The resolution called for U.S. intervention in the Kashmir conflict and urged the international community to take immediate steps to “alleviate the suffering of the people” in Gaza and Kashmir.
The resolution was passed by an overwhelming majority, with at least 368 members in favor and only seven opposed.
As the resolution was passed in Parliament, opposition lawmakers continued to chant slogans against the government and Malik slammed them, accusing them of encouraging attacks on Pakistan’s sovereignty in the context of foreign interference in Pakistan’s internal affairs.
“It is shameful that Pakistan’s sovereignty is being attacked and some of us are encouraging this attack. It is unfortunate that foreign powers are interfering in our internal affairs,” she said.
Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry also expressed serious concerns about the timing of the US resolution, saying it was “not in keeping with the current trend of excellent bilateral relations between the two countries.”
