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US Congressmen call on President Zardari
ISLAMABAD: President Asif Ali Zardari has once again condemned the incident of deliberate desecration of the Holy Quran by what he described as a mentally sick person in Florida.
He stressed the need for the United Nations and civilized nations to work out special plans for promoting cultural and religious harmony to arrest the decline of rationality and sanity.
During his meeting with a US congressional delegation led by Rob Wittman, Member House Armed Services Committee, here at the Aiwan-i-Sadr on Thursday, the President said that the tendency of intolerance and disharmony were crossing national boundaries and religious divides and its was imperative for the world to act before it was too late.
Extremism is being manifested in various forms including violence and intolerance, he said and added that disharmony was also increasing.
He said that the values of tolerance and harmony were advocated by the civilized world and now that these values were generally receding. It was important that UN took note of it and did something with the consensus of the nations.
The President said that the Government and the people of Pakistan strongly condemn the incident of desecration of the Holy Quran by a fanatic in Florida.
The President termed the incident a serious set-back towards the efforts intended to promote harmony.
He said that he had asked the Parliament to pass a unanimous resolution against such ugly and abhorrent act in the next meeting and also the Foreign Office has been asked to register protest at all international fora.
The President said that no religion can permit such fanaticism which in itself was a reflection of sick mind.
The US delegation included: Todd Young, Scot Rigell, David Loebsack, Larry Kissel and Professional Staff Members of House Armed Services Committee Ms. Michele Pearce and Paul Lewis. Cameron P. Munter, US Ambassador, was also present during the meeting.
Pakistan side included: Minister for Defence, Ch. Ahmed Mukhtar, Minister for Interior, Rehman Malik, Secretary General to the President, M. Salman Faruqui, Senator Syeda Sughra Imam, Foreign Secretary Salman Bashir, Secretary Defence Lt. Gen ® Syed Athar Ali and Spokesperson to the President Farhatullah Babar.
Briefing media Spokesperson to the President Farhatullah Babar said that matters relating to Pakistan-US bilateral relations, war against terrorism, drone attacks and energy requirements of Pakistan were also discussed during the meeting.
The delegation appreciated the country’s struggle against militancy and assured US continued support in this regard to the people and the Government of Pakistan.
Babar said that during the discussion on war against terrorism, the President highlighting great sacrifices rendered by Pakistan in the war against militancy and terrorism reiterated his call for early transfer of drone technology to Pakistan.
He said that it was a time for the two countries to take stock of the existing situation and focus on addressing all issues that contribute towards creating misunderstandings and mistrust between the people of the two countries.
The President said that there was an urgent need to review all such actions that are counter-productive in the ongoing war and create mistrust.
He said that our people had been paying the heaviest price in the war against militancy both in terms of human as well as material losses. The only way to mitigate their sufferings and to meet the challenges of the militancy was to provide them, especially the affected people of worst hit areas, new vistas of opportunities including the economic opportunities, he added.
The President said that he has been continuously pleading the case of the country before the international community for securing preferential trade and market access in order to put the hard-hit economy back on track, on one hand, and to improve socio-economic conditions in the conflict ridden areas.
The President urged the visiting delegation to use their influence and assist Pakistan in getting enhanced market access for its products and also to expedite ROZs (Reconstruction Opportunity Zones) legislation.
The delegation thanked the President for meeting and reiterated the US administration’s commitment to assist Pakistan in all possible manners to overcome challenges facing the country.
Courtesy www.geo.tv