In a tit-for-tat move
\n\u201cPakistan not to tolerate any kind of interference in internal affairs as a sovereign state,\u201d states resolution
\nNews Desk
\nISLAMABAD
\nIn response to the United States House of Representatives vote to demand a probe into alleged irregularities in Pakistan\u2019s general elections, the National Assembly on Friday passed a resolution to condemn the US Congress resolution and termed it \u201ccontrary to facts\u201d and \u201cinterference\u201d in its internal affairs.
\nThe resolution was tabled by Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) lawmaker Shaista Pervaiz Malik, and passed by a majority in the National Assembly amid a noisy protest of the opposition benchers.
\nThrough the resolution, the NA expressed sorrow over the US House Resolution 901 which demanded a \u201cfull and independent investigation of claims of interference or irregularities\u201d after expressing concerns over the February 8 polls.
\nThe US resolution was completely against fact, it stated, adding that Pakistan would not tolerate any kind of interference in its internal affairs as an independent and sovereign state.
\nThe lower house of parliament also demanded the US to maintain bilateral ties with Pakistan on mutual respect.
\nMNA Shaista further said that the resolution passed by the US House of Representatives was a clear \u201cinterference in internal affairs\u201d despite being non-binding.
\nShe also slammed the opposition lawmakers for \u201cencouraging an attack on Pakistan\u2019s sovereignty\u201d after a country dared to \u201cintervene in our internal matters\u201d.
\nThe US House was apparently taking notice of the \u201cexpression of supporting democracy in Pakistan\u201d, she read, adding that the US resolution was the result of \u201cincomplete information and misunderstanding\u201d regarding Pakistan\u2019s political and electoral process.
\nIt was a sorrowful development that the US resolution rejected the independent exercise of voting rights of millions of Pakistanis in the February 8 nationwide polls, the resolution read.
\nMNA Shaista, via her resolution, urged the US Congress to play a constructive role in cementing Pakistan-US bilateral ties and focusing on the two-sided interests of both countries. She further urged the US Congress to pay attention to serious human rights violations in Gaza and Kashmir.
\nThe Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) backed Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC) lawmakers opposed the resolution, chanted slogans of \u201cCipher-Cipher\u201d and \u201cShame-Shame\u201d in the House, as well as tore the resolution copies.
\nThe PML-N lawmaker also slammed the opposition lawmakers for \u201cencouraging an attack on Pakistan\u2019s sovereignty\u201d after a country dared to \u201cintervene in our internal matters\u201d.
\nCommenting on the treasury\u2019s resolution, PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan told journalists outside the Parliament House today that the government did not read the US Congress\u2019 resolution properly which demanded to ensure the provision of human rights and transparent polls.
\nHe was of the view that the resolution passed by the US House of Representatives could not be termed as \u201cforeign intervention\u201d. However, it exposed the incumbent government\u2019s intent for not holding an investigation into the 2024 nationwide elections.
\nThe US House of Representatives, earlier this week, in an overwhelming majority, voted to demand a \u201cfull and independent investigation of claims of interference or irregularities\u201d in the polls.
\nThe resolution HR 901 was passed by a massive 368 against seven votes on Tuesday, which makes 85% of the total American lawmakers in the legislature.
\nThrough the resolution, the US lawmakers had emphasised the need for the Pakistani public\u2019s participation in the country\u2019s democratic process months after its general polls were contested as \u201crigged\u201d and its outcome termed \u201cdelayed\u201d by political parties now seated on the opposition benches in the legislature.
\nThe PTI is among those opposing the results of the polls after its candidates faced immense hurdles in their run-up to their participation in the vote, leading them to participate as independent candidates and being deprived of their iconic bat symbol following a legal battle with the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP).
\nThe country\u2019s two major parties, PML-N and Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), along with other political parties, formed a coalition government in the Centre following the polls, leaving the candidates of PTI and other political parties with the opposition seats.
\nThe US move triggered a strong response from Islamabad, with the Foreign Office saying it \u201cstems from an incomplete understanding of the political situation and electoral process in Pakistan\u201d.
\nYesterday, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Ishaq Dar, while speaking on the floor of the National Assembly, announced the government\u2019s plan to \u201cbring a resolution to show sovereignty and unity\u201d as a nation.
\nMeanwhile, the PTI, whose members won a majority number of seats in the National Assembly, welcomed the US resolution, terming it a move in the right direction.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
In a tit-for-tat move \u201cPakistan not to tolerate any kind of interference in internal affairs as a sovereign state,\u201d states resolution News Desk ISLAMABAD In response to the United States House of Representatives vote to demand a probe into alleged irregularities in Pakistan\u2019s general elections, the National Assembly on Friday passed a resolution to condemn […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":415175,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-415196","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-top-news"},"yoast_head":"\n