Government introduces resolution in Northern Ireland to assert sovereignty and unity
Islamabad:
Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar announced on Thursday that the government would introduce a resolution in parliament after the House of Representatives passed a resolution the previous day expressing “strong support” for Pakistan’s democracy.
Speaking to Sunni Ittihad Council members who pointed out the US bill during budget deliberations, the deputy prime minister stressed the need to express the country’s sovereignty and unity.
The U.S. House of Representatives on Wednesday overwhelmingly passed a resolution by 98 percent calling for a “full and independent investigation into allegations of interference and fraud in Pakistan’s February 2024 elections.”
A total of 368 members voted in favor of the resolution, with only seven against.
Speaking in parliament on Thursday, Foreign Minister Dar read out the country’s foreign ministry’s response to the US resolution.
He further added that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs was responding effectively to the US motion and a draft resolution was ready for the government to table in the House of Representatives to counter it.
The Deputy Prime Minister told the House of Representatives that the government has taken note of the US motion and a draft opposition resolution would be shared with the Treasury and the Opposition in both Houses.
Dar said Pakistan believes in constructive dialogue and engagement based on mutual respect and understanding.
“But such a resolution would be neither constructive nor objective.”
The Vice Prime Minister hoped that the US House of Representatives would play a collaborative role in strengthening Pakistan-US ties and lay emphasis on avenues of mutual cooperation that would benefit the people of both countries.
The Deputy Prime Minister stressed the need to come together with a clear solution in response to the US motion.
He said the opposition resolution would be passed once discussions on next year’s budget were concluded.
Dar also called on the opposition parties to work together on amending the constitution to give voting rights to overseas Pakistanis.
“We are ready to discuss giving voting rights to overseas Pakistanis.”
The Deputy Prime Minister stressed that the Government has openly pursued the interests of the Palestinian people.
He added that the government called for an end to atrocities against Palestinians and the removal of obstacles to humanitarian access to Gaza’s residents.
“It is unfair to say that the government did not raise the Palestinian issue.”
The deputy prime minister noted that the government had taken steps to remove Islamophobic content from social media.
Talking about the Afghanistan issue, Dar said peace in the neighbouring country was in Pakistan’s interest.
“Afghanistan will remain our priority.”
The Deputy Prime Minister, who is also Minister in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, claimed that the current government has initiated economic diplomacy.
Dahl continued that foreign policy would always receive a vote of confidence from Congress.
He said Pakistan is capable of achieving its economic goals in three years instead of 12.
