LoC skirmishes: Ceasefire violations taken up at appropriate level, says Siddiqui

PM’s assistant calls on Imran, Qadri to show seriousness over LoC clashes

ISLAMABAD:

Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on National Affairs Irfan Siddiqui on Wednesday said the government has taken up the issue of Line of Control (LoC) violations at an appropriate level.

“Ceasefire violations along the LoC for more than a week are a matter of grave concern not only for Pakistan but the international community as well,” he said. “The loss of precious lives [due to the violations] has made the auspicious occasion of Eidul Azha an occasion of mourning for the affected families.”

Siddiqui called on Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) chief Tahirul Qadri and Pakistan Tehreek-a-Insaf (PTI) chief Imran Khan to demonstrate seriousness over the issue of LoC violations by Indian security forces.

“If they are sincere with the country, they should condemn the recent attacks at the LoC and the bloodshed of innocent citizens of the country instead of creating differences among the nation on trivial issues.”

He added that even though it was time for the nation to stand united, the leaders of sit-ins in Islamabad were working on a ‘specific agenda’ and damaging the country’s economy.

Siddiqui said Imran Khan should avoid considering himself merely an opposition leader and remember that his party was enjoying power in one province. He urged people of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa to assess PTI’s performance before voting for it the next time. 

Published in The Express Tribune, October 9^th, 2014.