Punjab PA denounces US resolution

Rejects ‘interference in internal affairs’

LAHORE:

The Punjab Assembly passed on Saturday a resolution condemning a US Congress resolution on Pakistan’s democracy and 2024 elections, a day after the National Assembly took a similar move.

Ahsan Raza Khan, a member of the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), presented the condemnation resolution in the Punjab Assembly.

The resolution criticised the US Congress resolution, stating that it “amounts to unwarranted interference” in the country’s internal affairs.

It claimed that the resolution attempted to create a volatile situation in Pakistan. It added that the US resolution tried to portray the measures taken to curb sectarian threats, violence and extremism during the general elections in a “controversial manner”.

All Pakistani institutions believe in the freedom of expression, the Punjab Assembly resolution said.

It demanded that the US Congress should focus on supporting the just causes of Palestine and Kashmir, rather than “meddling” in the affairs of others. It stated that the US resolution does not reflect the balanced bilateral relations between Pakistan and the United States.

The resolution further alleged that the US resolution aimed to make Pakistan’s general elections controversial, despite efforts to prevent sectarianism, threats, violence, and illegal actions during the elections.

The resolution further asserted that the US resolution is part of a conspiracy by a specific lobby to promote instability in the country.

On Friday, the National Assembly passed a resolution to condemn the Congress resolution.

“The House deeply regrets that the subject Resolution clearly reflects an incomplete and wrong understanding of the political and electoral processes of Pakistan,” said the resolution.

Earlier, the opposition staged a protest as the speaker of the Punjab Assembly suspended the membership of 11 members of the opposition party Sunni Ittehad Council on Saturday for causing disruption, chaos, and disrespecting the sanctity of the House during the budget session.

To prevent the suspended opposition members from entering the Assembly, a heavy police contingent was deployed.

The police force was stationed to stop the opposition members from entering the Assembly. Vehicle checks were also underway to prevent the suspended members from accessing the Assembly.

The PML-N party members and its allies were being allowed to enter the Punjab Assembly. The Punjab Assembly session could not start at the scheduled time.