India has been shelling Pakistani villages at the behest of certain powers in Pakistan, Javed Hashmi told media people on Thursday.
“This is part of an elaborate scheme,” he said. He was addressing a press conference.
Hashmi said gone were the days when India could call itself a secular country.
“The Indian army showed no regard for the fact that people across the border were celebrating Eid,” he said.
He said the Indian government did not want peace in the regional.
“If India is not happy with our progress and peace, they should return our mangoes,” he added.
“India has made many statements about peace, always accusing Pakistan of not being serious about normal relations,” he said. “Yet they have never backed up their statements with actions.”
“I don’t know how India can claim membership at the United Nations security council when it is violating international borders recognised by the United Nations,” he said.
He said it was unfortunate that the United Nations had failed to mediate the crisis.
“The UN has not been able to unite the world. Instead, it is now a tool to divide the world,” he said.
“All those who will support membership of India to the security council want an unstable South Asian region,” he said. Hashmi said religions should not be used for international politics.
Qureshi disappointed
“The prime minister of Pakistan sent the Indian premier mangoes. In return, the Indian army has killed 13 Pakistanis in unprovoked border clashes,” former foreign minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi said.
He said Defence Minister Khawaja Asif should be ashamed that he had been unable to control the situation.
“Sialkot is Asif’s hometown,” he said. “Yet, he could not convince the prime minister to condemn the killings.”
He was addressing newsmen at a press conference in Multan.
“There is no back-door diplomacy going on with the Indian government,” he said. “Rather, the government is pursuing back-door business deals with Indian leaders.”
He said no political party had questioned the premier’s silence on border clashes, except the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf.
“Perhaps the Indian premier did not like the mangoes Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif sent him,” he added.
He reiterated that the general elections in Pakistan were massively rigged and added that the PTI would continue to protest against flaws in the electoral system.
He said political immaturity and a dictatorial attitude of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) had made ‘Go Nawaz Go’ a national slogan.
“I believe Nawaz Sharif will not be able to withstand people’s anger for long,” he said.
He said the devastation caused by floods could have been avoided if the government had been prepared.
“Our leaders are enthusiastic about photo opportunity. This is their only contribution in relief and rescue efforts,” he said.
He said Finance Minister Ishaq Dar had told him at a negotiation meeting that all demands of the PTI were discussed with PML-N and PPP leaderships.
Former PPP member Naseem chaudhary and JUI-F member Zaibun Nissa announced their intention to join the PTI at the press conference.
Published in The Express Tribune, October 10th, 2014.
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