Breaking silence: In Egypt, Pakistan sides with democracy
Foreign Office calls for immediate release of ousted president Mohamed Mursi.
Participants of a protest demonstration in Sargodha hold up placards bearing the picture of ousted Egyptian president Mohammad Mursi. PHOTO: ISRARUL HAQ/EXPRESS
ISLAMABAD:
Nearly a month after the ouster of President Mohamed Mursi’s government in a military coup, Pakistan on Friday called for immediate restoration of democracy in Egypt.
As the crisis deepens, the Foreign Office in a statement voiced ‘deep concern’ over the loss of innocent lives in the ongoing violence in Egypt.
Until now Islamabad was reluctant to comment on the developments in Egypt describing them as their internal matter. But on Friday, the foreign ministry broke its silence and urged an immediate release of ousted president Muhammad Mursi.
The statement came amid reports that Mursi is being held over allegations of links with Palestinian militant group Hamas and plotting attacks on jails in the 2011 uprising. He will be questioned for an initial 15-day period.
Mursi has been held at an undisclosed location since his removal by the military on July 3.
“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 Foreign Office said.
“Having itself suffered from repeated extra-constitutional interventions, Pakistan is opposed to military interventions for the resolution of disputes in any country,” it maintained.
“Pakistan therefore urges 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.”
Published in The Express Tribune, July 27th, 2013.
Nearly a month after the ouster of President Mohamed Mursi’s government in a military coup, Pakistan on Friday called for immediate restoration of democracy in Egypt.
As the crisis deepens, the Foreign Office in a statement voiced ‘deep concern’ over the loss of innocent lives in the ongoing violence in Egypt.
Until now Islamabad was reluctant to comment on the developments in Egypt describing them as their internal matter. But on Friday, the foreign ministry broke its silence and urged an immediate release of ousted president Muhammad Mursi.
The statement came amid reports that Mursi is being held over allegations of links with Palestinian militant group Hamas and plotting attacks on jails in the 2011 uprising. He will be questioned for an initial 15-day period.
Mursi has been held at an undisclosed location since his removal by the military on July 3.
“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 Foreign Office said.
“Having itself suffered from repeated extra-constitutional interventions, Pakistan is opposed to military interventions for the resolution of disputes in any country,” it maintained.
“Pakistan therefore urges 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.”
Published in The Express Tribune, July 27th, 2013.