Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi has said that Pakistan is deeply concerned over ongoing tension between the United States and Iran that has "potential to destabilize the region" and is ready to play its role in facilitating de-escalation of tensions.
He was responding to a query posed by Shams Un Nisa from Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) during the question hour in the National Assembly on Friday.
The PPP MNA had asked the foreign minister to comment on whether the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is "vigilant enough to play its role in appeasing the growing conflict between the USA and Iran in the Persian Gulf to restore theregional normalcy which will surely help in concentrating on the Kashmir issue by diverting the international attention from the Persian Gulf conflict to the sufferings of Kashmiris in the Indian-occupied Jammu and Kashmir."
Pakistan, Qureshi said, both in its public statements and private interactions has urged all parties involved to exercise maximum restraint and avoid such acts which could spiral the situation out of hand. "The conflict, if ignited, would not be in the interest of Pakistan or any other country of the region. The Prime Minister of Pakistan specifically underscored the point with his US interlocutors during his recent visit to Washington."
The foreign minister said Pakistan is observing the situation carefully and is ready to play its role in facilitating de-escalation of tensions. "We have close fraternal relations with all states in the Gulf region. The government of Pakistan will continue to play a constructive role in de-escalation and settlement of issues within the framework of international law. We hope that an amicable solution would be found to settle the situation."
On Kashmir issue and the situation in Indian-occupied Kashmir (IOK), he said Pakistan's extensive diplomatic outreach campaign is continuing focused sharply on the illegality of Indian actions of August 5, the "indefensible lockdown of millions of Kashmiris for weeks, and the threats posed to peace and security by Indian belligerence. That the international community is focused on this dispute is evident from the Security Council's meeting of 16 August and the wider reaction of UN Secretary General, human rights organizations and international media. Pakistan will continue its efforts in support of the Kashmir cause."
Dismissing opposition's criticism that the foreign minister was quoted by the Indian media as saying during an interview that Jammu & Kashmir is an Indian state, Qureshi said, "India has lost its mind over our great diplomacy on Kashmir. For the first time in more than 50 years, Kashmir issue was taken up at the UNSC. And it is being taken up by the European Union, European Parliament, the US Congress and United Kingdom's House of Commons. It is understandable that India is losing its mind. But instead of falling for Indian propaganda, I expect my colleagues to have faith in us and believe in our side of the story. In the leadership of Prime Minister Imran Khan, Kashmir issue has been brought to life the way never done before."
Meanwhile, Human Rights Minister Dr Shireen Mazari said the action plan to improve human rights situation in Pakistan is being implemented by the federal government in collaboration with provincial public and private sector organizations. She was responding to the question posed by Nusrat Wahid from the ruling party Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI). She asked Mazari whether the action plan for human rights is successful in improving human rights situation in the country, especially in the Thar region.
The human rights minister said the Action Plan for Human Rights covers the whole areas of Pakistan and not specifically Thar. "The issues of human rights in Thar region i.e health of women and children, education and other basic necessities of life relate to the provinces after 18th constitutional amendment for which the Provincial Task Force on Human Rights in Sindh has been constituted under this Action Plan. However, the Action Plan for Human Rights is successful in improving human rights situation," she said.
According to Dr Mazari, while implementing Action Plan the government remained focused on i) enacting appropriate laws giving effect to Pakistan's international human rights obligations ; ii) amending and bringing the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC) and Code of Criminal Procedure (CrCP) in line with current human rights regimes and Pakistan's international obligations; iii) establishment and strengthening National Human Rights Institutions, National Commission for Human Rights, National Commission on the Status of Women, National Commission on Rights of Children and; iv) creating public awareness through human rights education, sensitization, research and communication.
Minister for Power Omar Ayub Khan said the federal government has taken a number of steps in the last one year to disconnect illegal electricity connections and stop power pilferage throughout the country with the action being taken against the officials involved in the power pilferage. The details of these steps, provided by the minister, are as follow. A campaign to curb the electricity theft has been launched since October 13, 2018, in all distribution companies of Pakistan. The chief ministers of Punjab and Khyber Paktunkhwa have also constituted task forces for the control of electricity theft. The respective task force is headed by the secretary energy of the province and includes the chief executive officers (CEO) of concerned power distribution companies (DISCOs) and relevant deputy commissioners and district police officers. "Full support of administration and police has restored the morale and enthusiasm of DISCOs employees translating in saving / earning of sizeable financial gain since the launch of campaign. With these efforts, line losses of DISCOs are showing a decreasing trend and recovery from the consumers has also improved," he said. The minister was responding to a question asked by Salahuddin from Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) regarding steps being taken by the government to disconnect illegal electricity connections and to stop power pilferage throughout the country alongwith the action being taken against the officials involved in the power pilferage.
To another question asked by Abdul Qadir Patel from PPP, the minister said an addition of 3,364 megawatts has been made in the national grid system during the tenure of the incumbent federal government.
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