ISLAMABAD: It is with regret and disappointment that the Parliament of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan has decided not to participate in the 136th Inter Parliamentary Union Assembly, which is due to begin from April 1, 2017 in Dhaka, People’s Republic of Bangladesh.
A 10-Member Parliamentary Delegation from Pakistan was due to participate in this international parliamentary moot under the leadership of the Speaker of the National Assembly of Pakistan Sardar Ayaz Sadiq.
However, the unpleasant decision has been taken in view of the continued malicious and uncalled for propaganda and unfriendly attitude of the Bangladesh Government against the people and the State of Pakistan.
In his statement, the Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq has said: “The Members of the National Assembly and I have noted with dismay and disappointment the continuing actions and negative public statements of the leadership, public officials and media of Bangladesh despite Pakistan’s restraint and overtures to the country. I have, therefore, decided not to travel to Bangladesh as a visit at this point will not serve the purpose.”
The Speaker recalled that the Parliament of Pakistan had most sincerely labored to harness good friendly and brotherly relations with the Parliament and people of Bangladesh. It was in this spirit, that the Pakistan’s parliamentary delegation had unanimously voted in favour of the Speaker of Bangladesh Dr. Sharmeen Chaudhary for the post of the Chairperson of the Executive Committee of Commonwealth Parliamentary Association in Cameroon in 2014. Dr. Chaudhary had won this election with a narrow margin of 82 votes in favour and 78 against with 10 votes of Pakistan going in her favour. These positive actions of friendship were again repeated when Bangladesh’s candidate Mr. Abdul Sabour Chaudhary was voted by Pakistan to become Inter Parliamentary Union’s President in 2014 while the same level of cooperation was extended through the platforms of Parliamentary Union of Islamic Countries and the Asian Parliamentary Assembly.
However, it is noted with much regret that the friendly gestures were never reciprocated in the same coin. The Speaker of Bangladesh did not visit Pakistan Pakistan despite repeated invitations. The Parliament of Bangladesh also boycotted all international parliamentary moots, organized by the Parliament of Pakistan during the last two years despite personal requests by the highest parliamentary leadership to the Speaker of Bangladesh. This includes the SAARC Young Parliamentarians Conference in August 2016, the International Women Parliamentarians Conference 2017 and the Asian Parliamentary Assembly in 2017. The Speaker recalled his meeting with the High Commissioner of Bangladesh earlier this month in which he had again conveyed his best wishes to his counterpart and had urged for working together to develop brotherly relations.
All such dedicated efforts, unfortunately, fell in vein and Pakistan was time and again targeted and maligned. Such hostile environment would not promote the interest of any side. It was, therefore decided, with a heavy heart, not to undertake a visit to Bangladesh at this time. The Speaker, nevertheless, conveyed his most sincere wishes to the people and the Parliament of Bangladesh. INP
