India creating instability through terrorist activities and spying: President
ISLAMABAD: Opposition parties, while chanting ‘Go Nawaz Go’ slogans, walked out as President Mamnoon Hussain started his address in the joint session of the parliament.
As soon as the president began his speech, members of the opposition benches began shouting anti-government slogans to register their protest against the federal government. During the initial phase of the president’s speech, chants of ‘go Nawaz go’ echoed in the House.
Highlighting that democracy has seen many ups and downs in Pakistan, President Mamnoon Hussain acknowledged that Parliament has maintained its relevance urging that the political process should be above individual and parochial interest for the sake of higher objectives of national progress and prosperity.
He was addressing the joint session of the Parliament in Islamabad today to mark beginning of the new parliamentary year.
Mamnoon Hussain said Pakistan has rendered unparalleled sacrifices in the long battle to eliminate the scourge of terrorism. He expressed the confidence that like Zarb-e-Azb, Raddul Fasad will also soon succeed in achieving its objectives.
He said trade and investment friendly policies, CPEC and power projects are manifestation and components of the plan to exploit precious resources for welfare of the people.
Turning to foreign policy, the President invited comity of nations, particularly neighbours, to agree on the fundamental principle of economic cooperation which can lead to ending of regional tensions.
President Mamnoon Hussain said Pakistan wants to resolve all disputes with India through dialogue. He, however, regretted that our sincere efforts have not been reciprocated in the same spirit. Instead, the situation has been exacerbated by India by promoting subversive acts of espionage and disruption in the region.
He said basic dispute between Pakistan and India is the issue of Jammu and Kashmir, which is an unfinished agenda of the partition. Referring to atrocities being committed by occupation forces against Kashmiris demanding their right to self-determination, the President said India has become the biggest hurdle in establishing peace and stability in the region. He said only solution to the Kashmir dispute is holding of a plebiscite as per UN resolutions.
He said Pakistan will always continue extending political, moral and diplomatic support to Kashmiri brethren. India is consistently indulging in acts of aggression on the Line of Control resulting in huge losses of life and prosperity of innocent Kashmiris. He said Pakistan strongly condemns the aggressive attitude of India.
The President said there can be no stability in the region without peace in Afghanistan. He invited Afghan leadership to improve border management system with mutual cooperation to overcome the menace of terrorism. He condemned yesterday’s terrorist act in Kabul and said Pakistan has always stood shoulder to shoulder with Afghan brothers. INP