Imran’s boycott to convey wrong message

LAHORE: Senior politicians and nationalists from Sindh and Balochistan have expressed disappointment over Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Chairman Imran Khan’s decision to boycott the joint parliamentary session over Kashmir due today.

The politicians said that at this hour when the country was confronting different internal and external challenges, this decision would convey a negative message to the world.“It is the decision of Khan Sahib and his party, I don’t want to comment on it but as a politician, I feel he should have not boycotted the session in in view of the prevailing situation” said Yousaf Raza Gilani while talking to The News. He said the PTI attended the All Parties Conference convened by the prime minister, but it announced boycotting the joint parliamentary session to be held on the recommendation of the opposition. He said all decisions taken in the conference attended by all political parties were to be endorsed in the joint session and Khan Sahib should have also attended it like other opposition components of the parliament.

Gilani said it was high time to show unity in “our ranks and covey a strong message to the world about our stance towards Kashmir”. This decision, he said, would not covey a good message, he said.

Former caretaker prime minister Balkh Sher Mazari refused to give a detailed comment while saying: “What Imran thinks better, he has the right to express it.” Jamhuri Watan Party head Shahzain Bugti said: “We might have political differences but over the issue of Kashmir, there should be no different opinions.” He said the JWP had said it loud and clear that if India committed any aggression against Pakistan, the soldiers of the Bugti tribe would be the frontline support of the Pakistan Army.

Criticizing Imran Khan, Bugti said he was doing politics of confrontation, demonstrations and Dharnas. He said over the issue of Kashmir, the entire world must know that Pakistanis were united, so the PTI decision to boycott the joint sitting was not praiseworthy.

Qaumi Awami Tehreek chief Latif Paleejo told The News Imran Khan had every right to take his decisions and express the difference of opinion over any issue he felt necessary. However, he said that at least over the issue of Kashmir, all politicians should stand united despite their differences. Paleejo said the nation was united over Kashmir and as a citizen from Sindh, he felt it necessary that an APC or a joint session of parliament should also be convened over the corruption of the Sindh government which was busy minting money.