‘Sovereign’ Pakistan rejects ‘US meddling’

NA slams Congress resolution over Feb 8 polls

ISLAMABAD:

The National Assembly on Friday passed a resolution against a resolution passed by the US House of Representatives earlier this week, calling it a manifestation of complete ignorance of Pakistan’s political and electoral process and an interference in the country’s internal affairs.

The resolution was passed with an overwhelming majority during the session chaired by Speaker Ayaz Sadiq. The opposition, meanwhile, resorted to noisy protest as members of the Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC) raised slogans of “Cipher, Cipher” and tore up the copies of the agenda.

The resolution was moved by Shaista Pervez Malik of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) on behalf of the women lawmakers of the coalition parties, who were elected on reserved seats in the National Assembly.

The resolution was signed by PML-N’s Nuzhat Sadiq and Shizra Mansab, Shagufta Jamani of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), Manaza Hassan of the Istehkam-e-Pakistan Party (IPP), Aasia Ishaq Siddiqui of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) and minority member Dr Mahesh Malani.

The resolution took note of the resolution titled ‘Expressing Support for Democracy in Pakistan’, adopted by the US House on Wednesday that called for a “full and independent investigation of the claims of interference or irregularities in February 8, 2024 general elections”.

The National Assembly resolution reiterated Pakistan’s commitment to upholding the universal principles of democracy and the fundamental human rights enshrined in the 1973 Constitution; and the country’s determination to build a strong and stable democratic society.

The resolution said that the US House resolution was clearly the result of an incomplete misunderstanding of Pakistan’s political and electoral process, as it did not recognise the exercise of voting rights by millions of Pakistanis in the general elections.

The US resolution was an attempt to interfere in Pakistan’s internal affairs, the resolution declared, adding that as a free and sovereign country, Pakistan would not accept any interference in its internal affairs.

The resolution reaffirmed the commitment to a strong bilateral relationship with the United States based on equality, mutual respect and cooperation. It hoped the US Congress would play a more constructive role in strengthening Pakistan-US relations for the benefit of the two countries.

Speaking on the resolution, Shaista
Pervez Malik said that under no circumstances the world powers were allowed to interfere in the internal matters of any country. Shagufta Jumani also said that the US must stop interfering in Pakistan’s internal affairs.

Aasia Siddiqui charged that the US had spread terrorism all over the world but “we will not allow terrorism” in Pakistan. “Today this house has said “absolutely not to America”. After passing the resolution, the session was adjourned indefinitely.

Foreign Office

Meanwhile, at her weekly briefing at the foreign ministry, Foreign Office spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch said that Resolution 901 adopted by the US House was an “unsolicited interference” in Pakistan’s domestic affairs which was “neither welcome nor acceptable”.

Baloch told the media that the US resolution clearly stemmed from an inadequate and erroneous understanding of political and electoral process of Pakistan. She stressed that the timing and the context of the said resolution were also not conducive to the current positive trajectory of the bilateral ties.