Qureshi rules out rolling back of 18th Amendment

FM Shah Mehmood Qureshi warns India of befitting response

Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi on Monday warned India against any aggression and stated that New Delhi should expect a befitting response in case it resorted to a misadventure.

“Pakistan has information that India is planning to conduct a false flag operation in (IOJ&K) for which it is finding an excuse to accomplish its nefarious designs,” he said while addressing a press conference in Multan.“In case, it [India]repeats the mistake like February 2019, it should wait for befitting response from us,” he added.

The foreign minister observed that India could do anything in the occupied Kashmir to divert the world’s attention from its deteriorating economy. He urged the world powers to take notice of Indian atrocities in the held valley and stated that Pakistan desired a conducive environment in the region.

“We have informed the UN Secretary-General, P5 countries besides raising this issue on other forums,” he said.

Qureshi said it was hoped that the Indian government would change its attitude towards the occupied Kashmir after the outbreak of Covid-19 and that the Kashmiris would be given access to hospitals and medicines, but unfortunately, New Delhi did not extend any relief to them.

“India is accomplishing its design even after the global pandemic. Associating the spread of coronavirus with Indian Muslims is ridiculous which has even been criticised by Arab countries,” he said.

Responding to a question, the foreign minister said Pakistan was looking forward to an intra-Afghan dialogue after a governance deal was reached between Afghan President Ashraf Ghani and his political opponent Abdullah Abdullah. Replying to another query, he said the government intended to extend relief to the farmers with a reduction in fertiliser prices.

“Lowering the prices of petrol and diesel would benefit the agriculture sector,” he said.“The federal cabinet will approve a relief package of Rs65 billion on Tuesday (today) for the farmers as agriculture is the only sector which can steer the country out of the Covid-19 issue,” he added.

The foreign minister said a large number of Pakistanis were stranded in foreign countries and flights were being operated to bring them back to home. He ruled out the rolling back of the 18th Constitutional Amendment saying the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) enjoyed a two-third majority neither in the National Assembly nor in the Senate.

“How can the PTI roll back 18th Amendment?” he asked. “We want to sit with the opposition for deliberations on its improvement.”

Commenting on the sugar and wheat crises probe report by the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), Qureshi remarked PM Imran had made no compromise on the issue.He noted the FIA had completed the report after its request for three more weeks was approved by the federal cabinet and would be presented to the premier soon.