PM says Pakistan to respond forcefully if national security threatened

Says India making a mockery of international norms by declaring Kashmir as its ‘integral part’

Opp leader says PM ‘too old’ with ‘no fire in his belly’ to make a passionate speech

Denouncing India’s “war hysteria” and attempted destabilisation of the region, treasury and opposition benches have expressed the resolve to stand united to foil all nefarious designs against the territorial integrity of Pakistan, while continuing the moral support for the freedom struggle in the Indian-occupied Kashmir (IOK).

A joint session of both houses of the Parliament was held on Wednesday to discuss the Indian aggression and state terrorism against the Kashmiri people.

PM Nawaz Sharif initiated the debate on Kashmir issue and deteriorating condition of human rights in the held valley, and ceasefire violations along the Line of Control (LoC).

The prime minister said that Pakistan had no aggressive designs against any country; however, it would forcefully respond if its national security was in danger. He said Pakistan was a peace-loving country and desired peace in the entire region, adding that it wanted a peaceful resolution of the lingering Kashmir dispute.

“We will not take any threat lightly and will not hesitate for a moment in responding,” the prime minister said. He said if India desired joint efforts against poverty then it must not rely merely on rhetoric, but should take practical steps and pointed to the contradictory approach by India in their words and deeds.

The PM said without the resolution of the Kashmir dispute, there could not be any peace between Pakistan and India and in the entire region. “Distorting faces of Kashmiris and firing pellet shots at them cannot reverse this movement,” the prime minister said.

Recalling his speech at the United Nations, he said he had demanded a number of steps for the improvement of the situation in the IOK that included withdrawal of India’s occupational forces from Kashmir and creation of a conducive environment for the holding of a plebiscite.

Sharif warned that if such trend of trampling the UN resolutions, rejection of international opinion and subjugation of human beings through the use of brutal force continued unabated, then the path of civilisation would be at peril. He said India was making a mockery of international norms by declaring Kashmir as its integral part. Without initial investigation, within few hours, India accused Pakistan, he said. The timing of such ploy exposed India’s ulterior motives.

OPPOSITION MINUS PTI:

However, only a few dozen lawmakers were left who were to make their speeches – perhaps justifying the stance adopted by Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan who had boycotted the joint session.

The arrival of Pakistan Peoples’ Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari was the only significant feature of the session who also blasted the prime minister during his chat with the media, claiming that in the year 2018, the prime minister would be sent to jail for the Panama Leaks scandal. He also claimed that his party would form the next government, as the art of politics was different from the game of cricket.

PM Nawaz’s soft-spoken speech did not augur well for the leader of the opposition, Syed Khursheed Shah, who lamented that the premier had lost attention as being an old man, he had no “fire in his belly.”

The seriousness of leader of opposition could be gauged by the fact that during his speech, he could not pronounce the name of Indian RAW officer Kulbhushan Yadav, who was caught from Gwadar. Rather than naming him Yadav, Khursheed Shah confused his name with slain Kashmiri freedom leader Burhan Wani, calling Kulbhushan as “Kulbushan Wani”, leaving the house in laughter.

Meanwhile, Khursheed Shah reciprocated the sentiments expressed by the premier, saying that the Pakistani nation was united on the Kashmir issue.

“If we wish that Kashmir should be freed, we should fight for it together,” Shah said. Shah also blamed the federal government for woes at the international forum, blaming the country’s failure in diplomacy.

Shah said, adding that although PM Nawaz’s speech in the UN was on point and ‘written’ well, but he should have also included Indian spy Kulbushan Yadav’s recent arrest in the country.

“Perhaps Mr Prime Minister, you are too old and have no fire in your belly to make a strong and passionate speech – the speeches you used to make in your 40s and 50s,” he remarked, leaving the prime minister with a bad taste.

“India also tried to isolate Pakistan by not attending the SAARC conference in the 90s, but Shaheed Benazir Bhutto foiled this move using her diplomatic skills,” he said and added that the rulers must think why does Pakistan feel isolated at the international arena today?

Kashmir Committee Chairman Fazlur Rehman addressed the lawmakers next and questioned India’s attempts to secure condemnations over the attack on Uri base.

“We are asked to condemn the Uri attack, but what about those innocent and helpless Kashmiris who were subjected to India’s brutality,” he said and asked the government to review the Kashmir policy and come up with a comprehensive and strong policy on Kashmir.

Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Sirajul Haq called for formulating a state policy on Kashmir. He said, for the time being, there was no state policy on Kashmir despite the fact India was killing and maiming freedom loving innocent and unarmed Kashmiri people.