Mollah execution internal affairs of Bangladesh
Pakistan has described the execution of Jamaat leader Abdul Quader Mollah as an internal affair of Bangladesh, adding that the Pakistan National Parliament did not mean to interfere in the internal affairs of Bangladesh by passing a resolution. Islamabad also said that it did not want to respond to everything that had been said in the public demonstrations. “Pakistan and Bangladesh share a long history which goes back to even before 1947. As Muslims of South Asia, we struggled together for independence from the British rule. Till 1971, we were one nation,” Pakistan’s foreign ministry spokesperson Tasnim Aslam said on Friday, in reply to questions regarding the events surrounding the execution of Mollah.
“What is happening in Bangladesh is essentially its internal matter. By passing a resolution, our Parliament did not mean to interfere in the internal affairs of another country,” she said. The
spokesperson also said, “I do confirm that our high commissioner was called to the Bangladeshi foreign office and was handed over an aide-memoire.”
“We would not like to get into responding to everything that may have been said in the public demonstrations because we do not want our response to be construed as recriminations,” she said.
However, she added, “We call upon the brotherly and friendly country of Bangladesh to adopt the spirit of reconciliation and cordiality in keeping with the tripartite agreement of 1974. We wish the people of Bangladesh peace, stability and progress.”
Regarding the difference between the position of the foreign office and parliament, the spokesperson said, “It must be noted that parliament is a sovereign body. It is the supreme legislative body.
Parliamentarians represent the sentiments of the people and therefore have the right to make every statement they deem appropriate.
“The purpose was not to interfere but it reflected our desire to look towards a brighter future in the spirit of the 1974 tripartite agreement between Pakistan, India and Bangladesh, where it was agreed that we would let bygones be bygones and focus on a better future for peace and stability of the region.”
-With The Independent input
