Sardar Ayaz Sadiq. PHOTO: ONLINE
Speaker National Assembly Sardar Ayaz Sadiq on Wednesday said that the government was determined to exterminate militancy and extremism from the country indigenously. However support of international community would supplement its efforts.
He talking to a delegation of Defence Committee of the House of Commons, UK, led by James Arbuthnot.
The Speaker said all the political forces had mandated the government to hold dialogue with deviant elements of society to curb extremism and terrorism in the country.
He said that Pakistan has suffered extensive economic loss, disruption of civic life in the country apart from losing 65,000 precious lives in recent years due to this menace.
Speaking about the drone attacks in tribal belt of Pakistan, the Speaker said that the “territorial integrity of Pakistan should be respected and such initiatives should be subject to international and humanitarian law.”
James Arbuthnot said the UK and other members of international community acknowledge Pakistan’s sacrifices in the war against extremism and militancy. “The UK wants a stable and prosperous nation which was in the larger interest of world and the region,” he added.
Meeting with EU MP
Meanwhile in a meeting with Member of the EU Parliament, Michael Gahler, Sardar Sadiq asked European Union to help democratic Pakistan get to grips with economic problems it is confronting.
Sadiq said the government wants EU to grant more trade preferences and greater market access to Pakistani products.
He said that economic activity in the country had been disrupted by militancy and natural calamities during the past few years.
Micheal Ghalar assured that EU would support Pakistani economy besides granting of trade preferences.
Published in The Express Tribune, October 31st, 2013.
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Would all please note that this meeting the speaker chaired was openly held in North Waziristan, where the Sovereignty of Pakistan is fully enforced by the government! NOT!!