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Thursday April 18, 2024

UK wants settlement within limits of Pak Constitution

LONDON: Britain has called on all parties in Pakistan to work together to resolve the current crisis

By Murtaza Ali Shah
August 29, 2014
LONDON: Britain has called on all parties in Pakistan to work together to resolve the current crisis involving co-ordinated sit-ins inside the Red Zone by Imran Khan of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf and Dr Tahirul Qadri of Pakistan Awami Tehreek.
Speaking to The News, a spokesman at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office said: “The British government encourages all parties in Pakistan to work together under the Constitution to peacefully resolve current political differences through continued dialogue. The foreign secretary made clear on August 19, 2014, that the United Kingdom strongly supports a democratic Pakistan, and the use of democratic institutions to resolve political disputes. As a long standing friend, the United Kingdom has always stood with the people and institutions of Pakistan on the steps they have taken towards a strong and stable democracy.”
The statement issued by Britain’s Foreign Office suggested that the UK was in favour of a political settlement within the confines of Pakistani Constitution.Pakistani government has stressed that Imran Khan and Dr Qadri’s calls of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s resignation are not right as not only there is no reason for PM Sharif to go but also that there is a conspiracy against democracy in these demands.
The government says that a precedent like this where the PM resigns just because a few thousands demonstrators ask him to do will mean greater political upheavals in the future and rule by mobs who could force anyone’s resignation.
The News is aware that Britain has been closely watching the events unfolding in Pakistan and has full-fledged desk dedicated to monitoring the ever-changing events.Britain is one of Pakistan’s biggest donors and its department for international development has many projects running across Pakistan, especially Punjab and KP.