Pakistan needs no lecture from any other country on democracy: Foreign Office
ISLAMABAD, December 20 (Online): Pakistan has brushed aside US ambassadorââ¬â¢s statement with reference to democracy and announced in categorical terms that it does not need to take any lecture or lesson from any other country on democracy as it is its internal matter.
"We talked to US embassy on US ambassador statement with reference to democracy in Pakistan and participation by a proscribed Jehadi outfit in relief activities. They told us that media reports were misreported. US does not interfere in Pakistanââ¬â¢s internal affairs. We donââ¬â¢t have any need to get any lecture or take any lesson from any other country on democracy. It is our internal matter and any country should have no objection over it", said foreign office spokesperson Ms Tasneem Aslam in her weekly press briefing here Monday.
Foreign office spokeswoman indicated foreign ambassadors had given such type of statements on two occasions and interfered in Pakistan internal affairs.
Citing to US Vice President visit to Pakistan she said Dick Cheney was coming to Pakistan to express solidarity with government and people of Pakistan. He would also pay visit to quake stricken areas, she told.
There are still six to seven number of Pakistanis held in Guantanamo bay prison facility, spokesperson pointed out. " we are engaged in talks with the US authorities to secure their release", she added.
She dismissed the reports about presence of 20 Pakistani prisoners in Guantanamo bay saying such reports are incorrect and only 7 Pakistanis are present there.
Responding to a question she said that no interference was made in the internal affairs of India through OIC joint communiqué and nor does the body do so. Concern voiced by OIC on Kashmir issue is just. It is occupied territory. It is on OIC and UN agenda. OIC has always upheld Kashmir cause and condemned Indian occupation. It has also decided to continue its support to people of Kashmir, she underlined.
To a question she said there is no US troops in quake battered areas. All are doctors or engineers there. As long as we wish, they will stay there. There is no time frame work set for their return.
She welcomed establishment of Afghan parliament hoping Afghanistan will enter into new phase of stability and peace this way. " We support holding of elections in Afghanistan", she maintained.
On Kashmir issue, she said that CBMs are moving forward and contacts with Kashmiris have improved. Talks will be held on Kashmir in New Delhi from January 10 to 15 in 2006.
F.O spokesperson told that Indian and Pakistani authorities would meet at every cost in one month to settle all matters related to Gas Pipeline project. Minister for petroleum will also visit India soon, she told.
Tripartite Joint Working Group will meet in February at Tehran, she informed. Meeting of Indo-Pakistan working group will be held in January at Islamabad. Talks are underway with India on Kishanganga dam, she added.
" We have imposed kill on some organizations. We will not allow them to work. However people associated with any organisation can not be prevented from doing relief work", she observed.
Spokeswoman told that bus service between Nankana and Amritsar has been initiated on trial basis. Talks will be held in Islamabad on December 21 on making this bus service regular.
She indicated that India had shown willingness to join Pakistan-Tajikistan pipeline project. India, Iran joint project can also come.
Spokesperson told that no date has been worked out for former US president senior Bush visit to Pakistan.
Pakistan and India will go for negotiation in January with reference to Siachan, she said adding some progress has been achieved on this matter in the last meeting.
She told that extradition treaty between Pakistan and UK had been finalized. Only both the countries have to sign it now, she added.
"Our position on non proliferation of nuclear weapons is very clear", she asserted.
In several countries, Pakistanis have been held on the charges of violating immigration laws, she underlined. We are talking to respective countries on their cases so that they could secure release. 8 Pakistanis held in Iraq have been set free, she told.
She maintained that former Prime Minister Mian Nawaz Sharif was moving to UK. Passports have already been issued to them, she added.
End.
http://www.paktribune.com/news/index.php?id=128869
ISLAMABAD, December 20 (Online): Pakistan has brushed aside US ambassadorââ¬â¢s statement with reference to democracy and announced in categorical terms that it does not need to take any lecture or lesson from any other country on democracy as it is its internal matter.
"We talked to US embassy on US ambassador statement with reference to democracy in Pakistan and participation by a proscribed Jehadi outfit in relief activities. They told us that media reports were misreported. US does not interfere in Pakistanââ¬â¢s internal affairs. We donââ¬â¢t have any need to get any lecture or take any lesson from any other country on democracy. It is our internal matter and any country should have no objection over it", said foreign office spokesperson Ms Tasneem Aslam in her weekly press briefing here Monday.
Foreign office spokeswoman indicated foreign ambassadors had given such type of statements on two occasions and interfered in Pakistan internal affairs.
Citing to US Vice President visit to Pakistan she said Dick Cheney was coming to Pakistan to express solidarity with government and people of Pakistan. He would also pay visit to quake stricken areas, she told.
There are still six to seven number of Pakistanis held in Guantanamo bay prison facility, spokesperson pointed out. " we are engaged in talks with the US authorities to secure their release", she added.
She dismissed the reports about presence of 20 Pakistani prisoners in Guantanamo bay saying such reports are incorrect and only 7 Pakistanis are present there.
Responding to a question she said that no interference was made in the internal affairs of India through OIC joint communiqué and nor does the body do so. Concern voiced by OIC on Kashmir issue is just. It is occupied territory. It is on OIC and UN agenda. OIC has always upheld Kashmir cause and condemned Indian occupation. It has also decided to continue its support to people of Kashmir, she underlined.
To a question she said there is no US troops in quake battered areas. All are doctors or engineers there. As long as we wish, they will stay there. There is no time frame work set for their return.
She welcomed establishment of Afghan parliament hoping Afghanistan will enter into new phase of stability and peace this way. " We support holding of elections in Afghanistan", she maintained.
On Kashmir issue, she said that CBMs are moving forward and contacts with Kashmiris have improved. Talks will be held on Kashmir in New Delhi from January 10 to 15 in 2006.
F.O spokesperson told that Indian and Pakistani authorities would meet at every cost in one month to settle all matters related to Gas Pipeline project. Minister for petroleum will also visit India soon, she told.
Tripartite Joint Working Group will meet in February at Tehran, she informed. Meeting of Indo-Pakistan working group will be held in January at Islamabad. Talks are underway with India on Kishanganga dam, she added.
" We have imposed kill on some organizations. We will not allow them to work. However people associated with any organisation can not be prevented from doing relief work", she observed.
Spokeswoman told that bus service between Nankana and Amritsar has been initiated on trial basis. Talks will be held in Islamabad on December 21 on making this bus service regular.
She indicated that India had shown willingness to join Pakistan-Tajikistan pipeline project. India, Iran joint project can also come.
Spokesperson told that no date has been worked out for former US president senior Bush visit to Pakistan.
Pakistan and India will go for negotiation in January with reference to Siachan, she said adding some progress has been achieved on this matter in the last meeting.
She told that extradition treaty between Pakistan and UK had been finalized. Only both the countries have to sign it now, she added.
"Our position on non proliferation of nuclear weapons is very clear", she asserted.
In several countries, Pakistanis have been held on the charges of violating immigration laws, she underlined. We are talking to respective countries on their cases so that they could secure release. 8 Pakistanis held in Iraq have been set free, she told.
She maintained that former Prime Minister Mian Nawaz Sharif was moving to UK. Passports have already been issued to them, she added.
End.
http://www.paktribune.com/news/index.php?id=128869
