Pak vows action over London 'attack on ex-CJ'

FO spokesperson rules out any talks with TTP

ISLAMABAD:

The Foreign Office spokesperson on Thursday expressed concern on an attack on former chief justice of Pakistan Qazi Faez Isa's vehicle in London and said that action would be taken against those who launched the attack.

Speaking at her weekly news briefing, Spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch ruled out any talks with the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and reiterated the call for the Afghan Interim government to act against the militant groups using Afghan soil to target Pakistan.

Baloch said that attacking the former chief justice's vehicle was a cause of concern. "Pakistan's embassy provides facilities to all former chief justices during their foreign visits," she added, while responding to a question.

She said that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif was on a two-day visit to Qatar for talks with his counterpart and the Emir. Previously, she added, Shehbaz visited Saudi Arabia and held meetings with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and the prime minister of Vietnam.

Regarding BRICS, she said Pakistan had expressed the desire to join the group and came up to the standards for getting membership of the organisation. She also highlighted the visit of Russian Speaker Valentina Matvienko to Islamabad who held meetings with the Pakistani leadership.

Meanwhile, the spokesperson rejected suggestions by the interim Afghan government to engage in dialogue with the outlawed TTP. "We believe such recommendations and advice are an affront to people who have lost their loved ones because of the activities of TTP," she added.

The spokesperson said that the Afghan authorities had the responsibility to act against terror groups, primarily TTP, as Pakistan had provided the pieces of evidence to the Afghan authorities. She explained that this was not merely Pakistan's demand but also the international community.

The spokesperson called upon the international community for an immediate cessation of hostilities in Palestine and Lebanon; protection of civilians; and unrestricted humanitarian access, besides ending Israel's genocidal campaign against the Palestinians in Gaza.

In her response on Pakistan's membership to the multilateral forum of BRICS, she said Pakistan had shown its interest in joining this group as it promotes inclusive multilateralism considering it fully eligible for its membership.

Commenting on Indian extrajudicial killings of Sikhs abroad, she said Pakistan was bringing international attention to the Indian terrorist activities and clandestine designs leading to extrajudicial killings abroad and had urged the international community to force India to abstain from such efforts.

On Dr Aafia Siddiqui case, she said as per the US laws a convicted person could file a mercy petition to the US President and Pakistan had supported her petition. She added that the case of Dr Afia Siddiqui was special as it was close to the heart of the people of Pakistan.

Responding to another query, she reiterated that Pakistan was resolved to the security of Chinese nationals in Pakistan and the commitment had also been conveyed to the top Chinese leadership. She termed recent remarks by the Chinese ambassador about the security situation in Pakistan "preplexing".