Aug 20 , 2015
News
Pakistan pulls back from hosting commonwealth conference
NA speaker says Indian demand not acceptable to invite IHK Assembly’s speaker
APPISLAMABAD – National Assembly Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq on Thursday said that Pakistan has pulled back from hosting 61st Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference (CPC) as India’s demand to invite the speaker of Indian-held Jammu Kashmir Assembly cannot be accepted.
Talking to a press conference, he said that inviting Jammu Kashmir at the conference was a violation of the UN Security Council’s resolutions and international laws. Pakistan would raise the issue of Kashmir on every forum of commonwealth, he said, adding that Pakistan would not move even inch from its stance on Kashmir.
– Pakistan to raise Kashmir issue in New York –
He said that Pakistan has to host the Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference from September 30 to October 8 for which 53 countries and 550 delegates had confirmed their participation. Ayaz said that India was trying to tarnish the image of Pakistan in the world through false propaganda. Pakistan would raise the Kashmir issue at upcoming Speakers’ Conference in New York on August 30 in which 188 delegates were participating, he said.
– Pakistan's position on Jammu Kashmir –
The Commonwealth Secretariat and Bangladesh speaker have requested Pakistan to review its decision to cancel the conference but Pakistan will not take its decision back, the speaker added. He said that Pakistan's principled position on Jammu Kashmir would be compromised if the speaker of the Indian-held Jammu Kashmir was invited to the conference.
There are UN Security Council's resolutions on Jammu Kashmir, which call for right to self-determination for Kashmiris through free and impartial plebiscite under the UN auspices.
Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk