Pakistan must recognise Libya’s new regime: PML-N

Dar says lives and jobs of over 55,000 Pakistani expatriates would be vulnerable if decision is further delayed.


Express October 15, 2011

ISLAMABAD:


Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) has asked government to recognise the National Transitional Council (NTC) government in Libya that has taken control of the country after toppling Muammar Qaddafi’s regime.


In a letter written to Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani here on Friday, PML-N Senator Ishaq Dar asserted that lives and jobs of over 55,000 Pakistani expatriates would be highly vulnerable if there is a further delay in recognising the council.

The letter asks Islamabad to take lead from examples set by China, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Gulf, African and other Middle Eastern states in recognising the council.

Dar reminded the premier of a statement by some elements within the NTC would substitute Pakistani workers with Indian ones if Islamabad does not recognise NTC’s rule soon.

“As we are well aware, the people of Libya have gone through a momentous struggle to install a new council to administer their country,” Dar highlighted in the letter.

“The transitional council that has replaced former Libyan leader Muammar Qaddafi and his setup is almost in complete control of the land while running the administrative affairs of their country.”

The developments in last few months in Libya required government of Pakistan to review the situation on ground for the timely recognition of the new set-up in Libya.

“However, I regret to point out that the government of Pakistan has been extremely slow in taking a clear-cut direction on this critical subject,” the letter read.

“It  appears  that  perhaps  slow  action  on  the  part  of  the government of Pakistan could be connected to ties of personal friendship in the past but we must not forget that these are part of history now,” the letter concluded, alluding to former premier Zulfikar Ali Bhutto’s amiable relationship with Qaddafi.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 15th, 2011.

COMMENTS (9)

Sheikh | 12 years ago | Reply

The Government of Pakistan should make a policy decision here. Based on no. of examples from the past, Pakistan recognises the government who holds power in the center and sits in the capital, example such as Afghanistan, where anyone who claims the power and sits in the capital is recognised as the legitimate government of the country by Pakistan. So why not Libya, why to wait so long when others get the opportunity. However, since we all know, the PPP's Government lacks initiative and has on occassions, fell insensitive to what's happening around the globe.

Peter | 12 years ago | Reply

Pakistanis can feel proud that their government did not cave in to pressure to recognize the NTC. Whether Pakistanis will be permitted to work in Libya or not is a separate matter from whether the NTC deserves recognition, which, in my opinion, it most certainly does not.

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