Opposition calls on Khawaja Asif to step down

Say minister’s statement is tantamount to degrading Pakistan internationally

LAHORE: The opposition benches protested against the controversial statement of Foreign Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif, alleging he is supporting India’s perspective.

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI)’s legislator and opposition leader Mian Mehmoodur Rasheed submitted a resolution in the Punjab Assembly, demanding Khawaja’s termination from his important position and called for an explanation.



Asif had said that former prime minister Nawaz Sharif believed that friendship with India would bring benefits for both countries. The foreign minister added that people from both sides of the border were part of the “same stock”, but partition created two separate nations.

In his resolution, he said that people have strong reservations over the foreign minister’s statement, which according to him, had tarnished Pakistan’s image internationally.



Rasheed said that the foreign minister was making complete efforts to appease India and the US. He added that the minister’s statement was tantamount to degrading Pakistan abroad. The statement also had a negative impact over the sacrifices of the military forces, he said. He added that nobody knew whose interests were being protected. “Khawaja is speaking India’s words, which is regrettable.

He demanded the government sack Asif from his position and the foreign minister be made to provide an explanation for his words.

Opposition leader Mian Mehmoodur Rasheed submitted a resolution on Thursday in the Punjab Assembly, demanding the resignation of Finance Minister Ishaq Dar after charges were framed against him in a money-laundering case. “The ministry should be given to a ‘sadiq’ and ‘ameen’”, he said.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 30^th, 2017.