Pakistan asks Egypt for Morsi's immediate release

Foreign Office states Pakistan opposed to military intervention in any country.

Members of the Muslim Brotherhood and supporters of ousted Egyptian President Mohamed Mursi shout slogans during a rally around Rabaa Adawiya square where they are camping, in Cairo July 26, 2013. PHOTO: REUTERS

ISLAMABAD:
Pakistan has called for an immediate release of ousted Egypt president Muhammad Morsi, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs reported.

According to a press release, the foreign office stated that the ousting of Morsi was a major setback for Egypt’s return to democracy and to the achievement of aims and objectives of the January 2011 revolution.

“As is well known, Pakistan and Egypt enjoy close and friendly relations based on strong bonds of fraternity, mutual respect and common aspirations of the peoples of the two countries. It is therefore with a sense of deep concern that Pakistan wishes to express its anguish at the loss of innocent lives in the violence which has currently engulfed Egypt,” the press release stated.

Having itself suffered from repeated extra-constitutional interventions, the foreign office stated that Pakistan was opposed to military interventions for resolution of disputes in any country.

Pakistan therefore urged all sides in Egypt to address the legal and constitutional issues in an inclusive and peaceful manner to enable the country to successfully restore the democratic institutions as early as possible, the office said.


“It is the earnest hope of the Government and the people of Pakistan that the great nation of Egypt would be able to deal with its affairs in a manner that ensures political stability, sustained democracy and development of their country and prosperity and well-being of its people,” it said.

Morsi and several Muslim leaders have been detained since the military drove him from power on July 3 in response to massive protests calling for his ouster.

Almost 200 people have died in political unrest since the end of June, according to an AFP tally, many of them in clashes between Morsi’s supporters and opponents and in militants’ attacks in the Sinai.

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