ISLAMABAD: The National Assembly on Thursday announced that it would not host the 61st Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference (CPC) as a consequence of the emergency tele-conference of the executive committee of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA).
The tele-conference was held on August 19. National Assembly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq was unanimously elected as the CPA president in October 2014 in Cameroon on the occasion of the 60th CPC. It was also decided that the next conference would be held in Islamabad from September 30 to October 8.
Pakistan had agreed to host the conference after Ayaz Sadiq was approached by late CPA secretary general Dr William F Shija. He had informed the speaker of the CPA’s difficulties in finding hosts for the annual conferences and had pleaded the speaker to take up the responsibility.
The National Assembly had agreed to accept the request with a view to strengthen democracy, dialogue and cooperation among the developing Commonwealth countries.
However, parliament had not shown even a distant sign of flexibility on its principled and historic stand on Jammu and Kashmir. The unsettled dispute remains the flash point for regional peace and stability and is very much alive on the United Nations’ agenda. There are outstanding UN Security Council’s Resolutions on Jammu and Kashmir, which call for the Kashmiris’ right to self-determination through a free and impartial plebiscite under the UN auspices.
The relevant UNSC Resolutions rule out any alternative to Plebiscite in Jammu and Kashmir as a possible disposition of this issue. In addition, parliament, especially the National Assembly, also passed numerous unanimous resolutions, calling for the right of self-determination for the people of Jammu and Kashmir.
It was in light of this that CPA President Ayaz Sadiq decided not to extend an invitation to the Indian-held Kashmir Assembly to attend the 61st CPC. The decision reflects the firm and unwavering resolve of Pakistan to remain committed to the Kashmiris right of self-determination in accordance with the resolutions of the UN Security Council at all costs, even if it means sacrificing the opportunity of hosting the CPC.
Nevertheless, parliament whole-heartedly thanks the 115 branches of the total 178 parliaments of the 53 CPA countries, including the 415 delegates and observers, who had already registered and confirmed their participation in the conference. Parliament hopes to host the friends and well-wishers of democracy and people’s right of self-determination as and when conducive environment prevails. It also thanks all for understanding Pakistan’s principled stand.
Although parliament could not host the 61st CPC, however this occasion has enabled Pakistan to once again highlight the Kashmir dispute as the unfinished agenda of the 1947 partition and remind the world, especially the 52 countries of the Commonwealth, the plight of the Kashmiris with a dire need for an amicable solution as per the aspiration of the people of Jammu and Kashmir.
Talking to reporters, the speaker said Pakistan has pulled back from hosting the CPC, as Indian demand to invite the Indian-held Kashmir (IHK) Assembly speaker cannot be accepted. He also said Pakistan would raise the Kashmir issue on every forum, adding that the country would not budge from its stance on Kashmir.
He said India was trying to tarnish Pakistan’s image in the world through false propaganda. Pakistan will raise the Kashmir issue at upcoming Speakers Conference in New York on August 30 in which 188 delegates were participating.
He said Pakistan’s principled position on Jammu and Kashmir would be compromised if the speaker of the IHK Assembly is invited to the conference. There are outstanding UN Security Council’s resolutions on Jammu and Kashmir, which call for the Kashmiris’ right to self-determination through a free and impartial plebiscite under the auspices of the United Nations.