ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s leadership incarcerated in Kot Lakhpat Jail has strongly advocated immediately convening a multi-party conference (MPC) on US-Israeli aggression against Iran.
Shared by the party’s Central Media Department, the PTI’s jailed leaders, including Shah Mehmood Qureshi, have underlined that their party, as the main opposition party, must immediately convene a multi-party conference of like-minded parties under the platform of the opposition alliance.
“The conference should deliberate and evolve a consensus on aggression against Iran by US and Israel and, Iran’s retaliation against Gulf States and the reasons behind the UAE’s decision for the immediate return of money deposited with the State Bank of Pakistan for balance of payment support,” they noted.
This platform, they contended, should also consider what extent was the FBR failure to meet its revenue targets responsible for the unprecedented rise in the price of petrol and diesel and effectiveness of the mechanism put in place for the transfer of subsidies to motorcyclists, small farmers and transport sector. “Diplomatic efforts underway to de-escalate regional tensions through a quadrilateral huddle in Islamabad, endorsed by China must be strengthened,” they stressed.
They warned that a prolonged conflict will certainly threaten Pakistan’s painfully achieved macro-economic stability; it will undermine energy and food security. Mounting inflationary pressures will not only impact the purchasing power of the people, it will push more people beneath the poverty line. Pakistan, they underlined, must advocate settlement of disputes peacefully through dialogue and diplomacy, respect of sovereignty and territorial integrity of states. International humanitarian laws prohibit attacks on civilians and civilian infrastructure.
“Strikes against nuclear installations are alarming and will expose Iran and its neighbours to horrific consequences. Pakistan must support respect for freedom of navigation and request the international community to address the root cause for the closure of the Strait of Hormuz,” it was noted.
The PTI leadership maintained that the international community should not overlook rogue behaviour of certain states; rising trend of flouting international laws and established international norms must be collectively discouraged. “Iran’s decision not to acquire nuclear weapons, its willingness to negotiate, its desire for a comprehensive peace and its keenness to exit the war with an international guarantee of no future aggression must be respected,” they argued. They also noted that the restraint shown by Gulf States that have suffered on account of retaliatory strikes by Iran must be recognised and appreciated. Closure of the Strait of Hormuz, they stressed, is affecting countries and economies beyond the region. Threats of bombing Iran to stone ages will only add fuel to fire. Expectations of a total surrender by Iran are unrealistic.
“The Trump administration must reflect over sharp divisions within the UN Security Council, reluctance of Nato allies to support the war and an overwhelming majority of the American public saying “No to war”. The US and Iran must demonstrate flexibility and undertake measures to protect the world from war and a global recession,” they said. They concluded that to successfully deal with the consequences of the Gulf conflict, a political consensus and harmony within Pakistan are of paramount importance. Pakistan can neither ignore its neighbours nor its strategic friends. The people of Pakistan are silently observing the foresightedness of the rulers. Besides, Qureshi, the PTI jailed leadership included Dr Yasmin Rashid, Ejaz Chaudhry, Mian Mehmoodur Rasheed and Omar Sarfraz Cheema.
