The Senate Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, Kashmir Affairs and Gilgit- Baltistan, on Wednesday, adopted a unanimous resolution to express profound grief over Bashir Ahmad Bilour’s assassination.
The Senate body met here at the Parliament House under the chairmanship of Senator Haji Mohammad Adeel which paid rich tribute to the late Awami National Party (ANP) senior leader and termed him a symbol of bravery and defiance in the face of growing challenges and threats.
The committee observed that his sacrifice for the cause of democracy, liberty and freedom would not go in vain. The draft of the resolution was moved by Senator Sehar Kamran in the committee.
Through this resolution, the committee condoled with the members of the bereaved family and leaders of the ANP including the committee chairman, whose party had suffered a great loss in the recent incident. They added that continued brutal acts of the terrorists targeted at the liberal democratic parties and forces would not thwart their struggle from prevailing.
The committee reaffirmed its commitment that such terrorist attacks which were against the teaching of Islam would not shake their resolve to stand firm against brutality and terrorism.
The committee urged the international community to acknowledge the sacrifices of Pakistani nationals and leaders in the war against terrorism and appealed to the nation to take a joint stand to confront the terrorists and others who were a threat to the solidarity of the country.
The committee was given a detail briefing on the policy of the Government of Pakistan on Cyprus besides briefing them on the visit of Hurriyat Conference delegation to Pakistan and other important issues.
Senator Adeel and other members of the committee were of the view that the visit of the Hurriyat Conference delegation was an important one and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs should take necessary steps to arrange such interactions in the future.
The chairman of the committee observed that the Kashmir issue was the corner stone of Pakistan’s foreign policy and the visit by Hurriyat Conference leaders was a positive development. It was further stated that Pakistan was seeking to resolve the Kashmir issue on the basis of United Nations resolutions and aspirations of the Kashmiri people.
Senator Adeel expressed his displeasure on the advice of foreign office not to allow Chief Minster of Bihar, India to visit Peshawar city in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province.
Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) Secretary Jalil Abbas Jilani informed the committee that the Hurriyat Conference delegation termed the visit as fruitful and important. He said that the delegation received a clear cut message that all the political forces of the country were united on the issue of Kashmir.
The committee also discussed in detail the issue of government owned properties abroad and sought further details about the properties and assured that the committee would make all out effort to resolve problems being faced by the ministry in constructing its own buildings for missions abroad.
The meeting was attended among others by Senators Sehar Kamran, Mushahid Hussain Sayyed and Syeda Sughra Imam. Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Amad Maik, MOFA secretary and senior officers of the ministry were also present. Senate Special Secretary Amjed Pervez also attended the meeting.
