PAC takes exception to ‘foreign interference’

Panel seeks details of response by various Pakistani missions, embassies to unwarranted criticism

ISLAMABAD:

The parliament’s accountability body has expressed its displeasure over interference in the internal affairs of Pakistan by foreign countries while seeking details of the response by various Pakistani missions and embassies to this unwarranted criticism.

“Propaganda is being spread against Pakistan and US congressmen are also involved in it,” Public Accounts Committee (PAC) Chairman Noor Alam Khan said on Thursday while chairing its meeting.

The PAC chief was referring to the concern raised by various politicians of western countries, including the US, about the ongoing crackdown against the PTI party.

Sixty-five members of the US Congress have written to US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, asking him to exert pressure on the Pakistan government in order to address the “continually worsening human rights violations in the country”.

The letter, co-authored by Congresswoman Elissa Slotkin and Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick, expressed the US lawmakers’ concerns over “the democratic backsliding and human rights abuses in Pakistan”.

“As proponents of a strong US-Pakistan relationship, we write to express our concerns about the current situation in Pakistan and urge you to use all diplomatic tools at your disposal to pressure the Government of Pakistan towards a greater commitment to democracy, human rights, and the rule of law,” the letter to Secretary Blinken said.

Taking exception to this criticism, Noor Alam Khan said he as a lawmaker does not interfere in the internal affairs of the US or the Great Britain.

“So why do they interfere in the internal affairs of Pakistan or the government of Pakistan?  Who gave you the right to try to interfere in the internal affairs of my country?” he asked.

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The PAC chief summoned director generals (DGs) of the desks of the relevant countries at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to know how the Pakistani embassies and missions have responded to this interference.

Later talking to the media outside the parliament house, he said: “We want to find out whether our embassies have responded to these countries or not. They cannot interfere in the internal affairs of Pakistan as per the UN Charter. These countries should concern themselves with their internal affairs.”

In response to a question, he said that US congressmen are engaged in propaganda against Pakistan.

Khan also criticized the Pakistanis who leave Pakistan and take the oath of allegiance to western powers but still look for interfering in the country’s internal matters.

“I want to tell them: They should come to Pakistan and stay in Pakistan and then criticize. You cannot sit there and talk against Pakistan. No country has any right to interfere in the internal affairs of my country,” he added.

During the meeting, PAC also sought details of the buildings that the foreign ministry has rented in foreign countries. The committee noted that in many countries, the ministry has rented buildings at exorbitant prices. Khan said the ministry could save money by getting these buildings with a mortgage.

The committee also noted that the accounts of NADRA Technologies Limited (NTL), a registered company of the National Database Registration Authority (NADRA), have not been audited.

It directed the auditor general to conduct an audit of the NTL with the help of the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA). When told that the NTL officers are given a daily allowance of $1,000 during foreign trips, PAC also sought the travel history of the NTL officers in the last four years.