Re: PM Nawaz Sharif Speech In Joint Parliament Session
The joint session of the parliament is underway where Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif addressed those in attendance. The prime minister in his address said that Burhan Wani’s martyrdom brought Kashmir to turning point, adding that the valley is bubbling up like a volcano. Pakistan is against war and wants durable peace in the region, said the prime minister. He said that Pakistan wants to resolves all issues through negotiations, adding that the entire nation is united for the country’s defense. “Our desire for peace should be taken as a sovereign nation’s wish,” said the premier. The session is aimed at expressing resolve to defend the sovereignty and integrity of the country at all costs. The session was summoned to discuss unprovoked aggression of Indian security forces across the Line of Control (LoC) and deteriorating situation in Occupied Kashmir. Earlier, PTI announced that it would boycott Wednesday’s joint parliamentary session on the Kashmir issue, with party chairman Imran Khan saying his party would no longer endorse this parliament. “We fully back Kashmiris’ right to self-determination and sent Shah Mehmood Qureshi to yesterday’s meeting of the parliamentary parties’ heads,” said Imran, questioning what else was left there for discussion in the joint session of the parliament. He said that Nawaz Sharif had lost the moral authority to stay as the prime minister and that Tehreek-i-Insaf would no longer endorse this parliament. However, this move from the opposition party met with severe criticism from political circles. Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) leader Qamar Zaman Kaira criticised Imran Khan for spoiling government’s efforts for a unanimous stance on Kashmir. “Until yesterday, Nawaz Sharif had the legality of a prime minister, but today he lost the moral authority according to the PTI chairman,” he questioned, adding that this makes no sense. Information Minister Pervaiz Rashid said the joint session of parliament has been summoned to demonstrate solidarity with the Kashmiri people suffering atrocities at the hands of the Indian forces. The Information Minister said that PTI chief’s attitude suggests that he is unable to understand the importance of the national issues, and he always preferred personal interests. “Instead of representing the nation on the important national issue at the highest democratic importance, the PTI chief is engaged in hatching conspiracies”, he added. Pervaiz Rashid further said Imran Khan should keep the political differences aside from the Kashmir cause.