KL NEWS NETWORK
SRINAGAR
Pakistan’s opposition parties Thursday blasted the Pakistan government over the joint statement with India, saying that the “joint statement favoured New Delhi at the cost of Islamabad’s stance on the Kashmir issue”.
Shireen Mazari of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) yesterday led the battering in parliament, the Dawn reported.
Mazari said, “while the statement categorically addressed Indian concerns over the Mumbai trial, what about Samjhauta Express case and Kashmir cause which the government recently took up at the United Nations and kept on boasting about taking such a bold stand.”
Mazari while quoting the statement said the Indian side was assured of the steps being taken to expedite the early conclusion of the Mumbai attack trial, sought clarifications from the government about the difference between “composite” and “comprehensive” bilateral dialogue.”
While questioning the language of the statement, Mazari wondered whether the resumption of “bilateral talks meant Pakistan had relinquished its options to use multilateral forums to take up issues, particularly Kashmir”.
Chief of Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JUI-F) Maulana Fazlur Rehman said that such statements warranted a “clarification from the government side because apparently it didn’t explain what actually transpired during the talks”. “When Pakistan highlights the issue of Kashmir at the UN under its resolution, India says it is a bilateral issue which requires no international forum. At the bilateral level, the Indian argument has been that Kashmir is its integral part,” he said.
‘Then somebody must explain to this house at what level the government intends to take it up with India,” he added.
He called for strengthening the National Assembly’s “Kashmir Committee” which he heads, and making it a powerful arm of parliament.
