British Member of Parliament calls on Speaker National Assembly

Lahore : Speaker National Assembly Sardar Ayaz Sadiq has said that the role of Pakistani community in UK is central to Pakistan’s outreach to United Kingdom as Britain hosts largest Pakistani community anywhere in the world. He was speaking to Ms. Tasmeena Sheikh, Member of British Parliament who called on him at Parliament House, Islamabad on Tuesday.

Appreciating the contributions of Pakistani Diasporas to the British economy and society, Sardar Ayaz Sadiq remarked that Pakistan is proud of its community in UK. The Speaker stressed on the need for collaboration in uplifting quality of education in Pakistan. He remarked that Pakistan is keen to benefit from UK’s expertise in education, Science and technology and health. He urged the need for regular exchanges of Parliamentary delegations and friendship groups to strengthen bilateral relations.

Sardar Ayaz Sadiq highlighted that Pakistan strongly desires peace and stability in the region and beyond, and support people’s struggle for self-determination in Jammu & Kashmir and anywhere in the world. The Speaker urged her to highlight the Kashmir cause at various international forums and expose the Indian high-handedness and human rights abuse in Kashmir.

Referring to Pakistan’s principled stance on Kashmir, the Speaker remarked that he pulled back Pakistan from hosting 61^st Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference as its chosen President when India agitated for extending invitation to Assembly of Indian Occupied Kashmir. He added that the Parliament of Pakistan could not issue an invitation to the Indian Occupied Jammu & Kashmir Assembly to attend the Conference, as it would have been in violation of the UNSC Resolutions. The Speaker highlighted that Pakistan’s principled stance on Kashmir was more important than hosting Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference.

Ms. Tasmeena Sheikh endorsed Ayaz Sadiq’s proposal for partnership in uplifting quality of education in Pakistan and further added that Britain is Pakistan’s partner in strengthening parliamentary democracy in Pakistan.

She appreciated Pakistan’s sacrifices in the global war on terror and added that Britain acknowledges Pakistan’s contribution to regional peace and security. Ms. Tasmeena Sheikh also underlined the need for furthering inter-Parliamentary ties.