Govt ready to hold debate on foreign policy, says Qureshi

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–FM says Opp didn’t take budget session seriously 

ISLAMABAD: Minister for Foreign Affairs Shah Mehmood Hussain Qureshi has said that government is ready to conduct debate in the National Assembly on foreign policy with a purpose to evolve a consensus on various affairs.

Speaking in the National Assembly on Saturday on a point raised by the Leader of the Opposition Shehbaz Sharif, the foreign minister said, “We are ready to listen to the viewpoint of the opposition and to respond their queries. The government has no issue to discuss foreign policy but there should be a bi-partisan approach and both sides should listen to the viewpoint of each other with patience.”

Speaking about the attitude of the opposition during the budget, the foreign minister said the opposition was not serious throughout the session.

He said Pakistan People’s Party leader Asif Ali Zardari and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz leader Khawaja Saad Rafique remained absent from the National Assembly despite the issuance of their production orders.

“Contrary to the tradition, they even pointed out lack of quorum in the House. However, the quorum was complete due to the presence of all members from the treasury benches,” he added.

Earlier, the National Assembly adopted a resolution against PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari for using insulting language against NA speaker terming the same an assault on the House.

The resolution demanded that Bilawal should take back his words and tender an apology.