Achakzaiextends ‘unconditional support’ to govt

Middle East peace efforts

PTI calls off April 9 protest

ISLAMABAD: Opposition Leader in the National Assembly Mehmood Khan Achakzai on Wednesday extended “unconditional support” to the government in its efforts for peace in the Middle East.

Responding to Law Minister AzamNazeerTarar’s speech, in which he requested the opposition to defer its protest planned for Thursday, Achakzai said that in his speech on Tuesday, he had called for former premier Nawaz Sharif, President Asif Ali Zardari and Imran to sit together in the current situation and move the country forward.

He said that he, along with Opposition Leader in the Senate AllamaNasir Abbas, would convince Imran to engage in political dialogue.

“I had also said earlier that we should not point fingers at each other. At the very least, we should agree on democratic principles,” he said.

“I don’t know why you people think we are mad. Only a mad person would not be happy with today’s success of Pakistan,” he said, lauding the government’s mediatory role in the Middle East crisis.

“We will provide you with unconditional support,” he said before declaring that the opposition was ready to hold talks with the government. He said the parliament should be the source of power and the centre of originating decisions and policies.

Achakzai said that US President Donald Trump had already stated that he had achieved his objectives in the war with Iran.

Amid desk-thumping, the opposition leader praised Iran, saying that Iran has upheld the honour of all Muslims. He also suggested that Trump should engage in dialogue with all nations.

“If we are to talk about destroying civilisations, then why do we criticise Adolf Hitler and Missoulini?” he asked.

He said Trump and Iran trusted Pakistan because they knew that whatever message would be conveyed would reach the other side effectively.

“Nature gave us an opportunity, and we handled it well,” he said.

PTI calls off April 9 protest: Separately, after holding talks with government representatives, PTI Chairman National Assembly Barrister Gohar Ali Khan returned to the lower house of Parliament and announced that, on Imran’s instructions, the party had decided to cancel its public gathering for Thursday.

“There come moments of unity in the life of nations. We appreciate all those who have played a role in achieving the ceasefire,” Gohar said. He said Pakistan had prevented the Muslim world from falling into internal conflict.

“We hope this ceasefire will turn into a permanent cessation of hostilities. We fully support peace negotiations,” the PTI chairman declared.

“Setting aside our grievances, we are moving forward for the sake of the country,” he added

“Today, our identity is linked to the founding chairman of PTI. The founding chairman of PTI has an eye condition, yet doctors of his own choice were not allowed to treat him. Even our leader’s wife has been imprisoned despite being innocent,” he said.

He said Pakistan was going to host negotiations and a government delegation approached the opposition, and “we conveyed a positive message to them.” Staff Report