Facing bother at dwelling, Imran praises India’s ‘independent foreign policy’ forward of no-trust vote

By Express News Service

Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan on Sunday praised India for following an “independent foreign policy” even whereas being a part of Quad and importing crude oil from Russia regardless of American sanctions. He mentioned his international coverage would additionally favour the individuals of Pakistan.

“I haven’t bowed before anyone and will not let my nation bow either,” mentioned Khan, who’s rallying public assist forward of a no-confidence vote in opposition to him. Khan mentioned he had mentioned “absolutely no” to the EU envoys in search of Pakistan’s assist in opposition to Russia over the Ukraine battle.

Khan, a fierce critic of the ruling NDA authorities led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, spoke extremely of India’s international coverage.

Addressing a public rally within the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province, he informed his supporters that he want to reward the neighbouring nation India because it was having an “independent foreign policy”.

Khan mentioned that India, which is part of the Quad grouping, has imported crude oil from Russia regardless of American sanctions on Moscow.

The Quad grouping has the US, India, Japan and Australia as its members.

The US-led Western international locations have imposed crippling financial sanctions on Russia for its army offensive in Ukraine which was ordered by President Vladimir Putin on February 24.

Prime Minister Khan mentioned that his international coverage would additionally favour the individuals of Pakistan.

“I haven’t bowed before anyone and will not let my nation bow either,” mentioned Khan, who’s rallying public assist forward of a no-confidence vote in opposition to him in Parliament.

Breaking from the custom of not overtly discussing difficult issues regarding international relations in public rallies, Khan talked about that he had mentioned “absolutely no” to the European Union (EU) envoys in search of Pakistan’s assist in opposition to Russia within the Russia-Ukraine battle as a result of “they broke protocol by making the request”.

He mentioned that Pakistan would have gained nothing by complying with the EU’s request.

“We became part of America’s war against terror in Afghanistan and lost 80,000 people and USD 100 billion,” he mentioned.

It is for the second time he spoke in opposition to a press release by the EU and different Western international locations asking Pakistan earlier this month to sentence the Russian intervention in Ukraine.

In his earlier handle, Khan had additionally requested the EU if it will make the same demand to India.

In one other endorsement for New Delhi’s stand vis-a-vis the battle, Australia on Sunday mentioned the Quad member international locations has accepted India’s place on the Russian assault on Ukraine.

The disaster in Ukraine is predicted to determine in Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s digital summit together with his Australian counterpart Scott Morrison on Monday.

Unlike different Quad international locations — the US, Japan and Australia — India has not condemned the Russian invasion and has pressured battle decision by dialogue and diplomacy.

“The Quad countries have accepted India’s position. We understand that each country has a bilateral relationship and it is clear from the comments of the MEA (Ministry of External Affairs) and Prime Minister Modi himself that he has used his contacts to call for the end of the conflict and no country will be unhappy with that,” Australian High Commissioner to India Barry O’Farrell informed reporters when requested concerning the disquiet within the West over India’s refusal to sentence the Russian invasion.

Pakistan’s National Assembly will convene on Friday to take up a no-trust movement in opposition to Prime Minister Imran Khan, who supplied a deal to his dissent lawmakers on Sunday in an effort to beat his hardest political take a look at since assuming workplace in 2018.

Around 100 lawmakers from the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and Pakistan Peoples’ Party (PPP) submitted the no-confidence movement earlier than the National Assembly Secretariat on March 8, alleging that the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI) authorities led by Khan was answerable for the financial disaster and the spiralling inflation within the nation.

On Sunday, the NA Secretariat issued a notification, clearing the mud relating to the important thing session which the opposition had demanded to be convened by March 21 as per the authorized necessities.

“The session will convene at 11 am on Friday and will be the 41st session of the current National Assembly,” in response to the notification.

Speaker Asad Qaiser summoned the session beneath the facility given to him by Article 54 (3) and 254 of the Constitution of Pakistan.

The opposition has been saying that the session ought to be summoned inside 14 days however Interior Minister Sheikh Rashid mentioned at a press convention it may be delayed resulting from extraordinary circumstances.

The delay, on this case, is as a result of high-profile forty eighth summit of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) ranging from March 22 on the Parliament House.

Initially, the opposition had threatened to stage a sit-in if the session was not known as on time.

However, the joint opposition toned down its stance by stressing that Pakistan’s political turmoil is not going to be allowed to have an effect on the occasion in any method.

The decrease home will deliberate on the opposition’s no-confidence decision in opposition to Prime Minister Khan on March 25.

Once the movement is formally taken up by the home, the voting ought to be executed between three to seven days.

Khan, 69, is heading a coalition authorities and he will be eliminated if a few of the companions resolve to change sides.

In the 342-member National Assembly, the Opposition wants 172 votes to take away Khan, the cricketer-turned-politician.

The PTI has 155 members within the House and desires at the least 172 lawmakers on its facet to stay within the authorities.

The celebration has the assist of 23 members belonging to at the least six political events.

Nearly two dozen dissident lawmakers of the ruling celebration just lately got here out within the open forward of voting on the no-confidence movement in opposition to Prime Minister Khan, with the federal government accusing opposition events of horse-trading.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Khan on Sunday supplied an olive department to insurgent lawmakers of his celebration saying he was able to forgive them like a ‘compassionate father’ in the event that they returned to the celebration fold.

“I will forgive you if you come back. We all commit mistakes. I am like a father who forgives his children and I will pardon you as well and no action will be taken against you,” he mentioned whereas addressing a public rally in Malakand district of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa.

At the identical time, he warned that these not heeding to his phrases ought to be able to face a “social boycott’.

“Return to the party’s fold or face social boycott,” he warned the insurgent PTI lawmakers.

Before providing the olive department, Khan accused them of promoting their conscience and informed the insurgent lawmakers that they are going to be perpetually generally known as individuals who “sold their conscience” and it is going to be troublesome for them to attend social occasions like marriages.

“Even it will be difficult for them to arrange marriages of their kids,” he mentioned.

In one other growth, supporters of rival events have been protesting in opposition to or in favour of varied PTI lawmakers who introduced to go in opposition to Khan.

Dawn reported that the PTI supporters gathered outdoors the home of insurgent lawmaker Malik Ahmed Hassan Dehar in Multan to protest in opposition to him, whereas employees of the opposition Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) staged a rally outdoors the residence of one other PTI dissident Noor Alam Khan in Peshawar to offer ethical assist to him and his household.

Similar rallies have been additionally held at different locations like Lahore after Khan defended the peaceable proper of his celebration activists in opposition to the ‘turncoats’.

On Saturday, the ruling celebration issued show-cause notices to its dissident lawmakers for alleged defection and sought a proof from them by March 26 as to why they is probably not declared defectors and disqualified as a member of the National Assembly.

Both authorities and opposition politicians have been working time beyond regulation to tilt the steadiness of their favour.

The PPP held the assembly of its core committee, adopted by the assembly of its leaders with PML-N and JUI-F leaders at a lunch hosted by PML-N president Shehbaz Sharif.

Khan additionally consulted his core group concerning the newest scenario.

He has informed his supporters that the no-trust transfer would fail.

Pakistan’s Interior Minister Sheikh Rashid on Sunday warned the opposition leaders to not disrupt the OIC assembly right here as he termed it a matter of nationwide safety, amid opposition risk to dam the high-profile convention.

“I declare right here that nobody can dare to create any kind of hurdle within the holding of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) convention as a result of it is a matter of safety of Pakistan,” Rashid mentioned at a press convention.

The minister asserted that as much as 15,000 safety personnel of police and the paramilitary forces can be deployed to supply safety to the delegates of Muslim international locations coming to take part within the convention.

The two-day occasion on the Parliament could have representatives of greater than 50 international locations in attendance.

“Those due to attend the conference are our guests and the Pakistan Army has taken up the task of providing security to them,” he mentioned earlier, including that the federal government would “take care” of the opposition with ease and nobody may dare create an impediment in the best way of the assembly.

Initially, the opposition had threatened to stage a sit-in if the nationwide meeting session was not known as on time to take up a no-confidence movement in opposition to Prime Minister Imran Khan.

However, the joint opposition toned down its stance on Sunday stressing that Pakistan’s political turmoil is not going to be allowed to have an effect on the occasion in any method.

“The opposition pledges to do its utmost to create an atmosphere in which the distinguished guests will be able to carry out their activities with full attention, dedication and determination,” mentioned a joint assertion issued by opposition events.

National Assembly Speaker Asad Qaiser on Sunday introduced to convene the meeting session on March 25 to take up the no-trust movement in opposition to Prime Minister Khan.

Around 100 lawmakers from the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) submitted the no-confidence movement earlier than the National Assembly Secretariat on March 8, alleging that the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI) authorities led by Prime Minister Khan was answerable for the financial disaster and the spiralling inflation within the nation.

Opposition leaders risk to disrupt the OIC assembly created panic among the many Islamabad-based ambassadors of the Muslim international locations, in response to Rashid.

“I received calls from at least 22 ambassadors and I told everyone that come what the conference would be held as per schedule,” he mentioned on the press convention.

The OIC is a 57-member grouping of Muslim majority nations, together with Pakistan.

Foreign Office Spokesperson Asim Iftikhar mentioned the OIC session will coincide with Seventy fifth-anniversary celebrations of Pakistan’s Independence Day.

The forty eighth summit of the OIC-CFM will probably be held on March 22 and 23 beneath the theme: “Building Partnerships for Unity, Justice, and Development.

Pakistan mentioned on Sunday that Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi would attend the convention of international ministers of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) right here.

Pakistan is internet hosting the forty eighth Session of the Council of Foreign Ministers (CFM) of the OIC right here on March 22-23, the Foreign Office mentioned in a press release.

Foreign Ministers and high-level dignitaries from OIC Member and Observer States are attending the CFM.

They will even witness the Pakistan Day Parade on March 23 as Guests of Honour.

“State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi of the People’s Republic of China will attend as a Special Guest,” mentioned the FO.

Senior officers from non-OIC international locations, senior representatives from the United Nations system, regional and worldwide organisations, together with the Arab League and the Gulf Cooperation Council will even take part within the convention.

Prime Minister Imran Khan will ship the keynote handle on the Inaugural Session on March 22.

Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi will chair the CFM.

The FO mentioned that the CFM assumes particular significance given the backdrop of alternatives and challenges earlier than the Muslim world within the political, safety, social and financial spheres.

Apart from an appraisal of the worldwide and regional landscapes, the CFM will inter alia reaffirm the long-standing solidarity and assist of its membership with the individuals of Palestine; reiterate its resolve to fight rising Islamophobia; and focus on methods to counter the results of local weather change, vaccine inequity and erosion in progress in direction of SDGs.

The Ministerial assembly will take inventory of the selections taken on the seventeenth Extraordinary Session of the OIC-CFM held in Islamabad in December 2021 to handle the humanitarian scenario in Afghanistan.

The Islamabad Ministerial will contemplate and undertake over 100 resolutions on a broad vary of points, together with peace and safety; financial growth; cultural and scientific cooperation; and humanitarian, authorized, administrative and monetary issues.

The thematic focus of the Ministerial Conference is on ‘Partnering for Unity, Justice and Development’.

(With PTI Inputs)