Pre-poll diplomacy — envoys from US, UK meet top leaders

LAHORE/MULTAN/ISLAMABAD/KARACHI: UK High Commissioner to Pakistan Jane Marriott on Saturday met PPP Co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari. Also, the US Ambassador Donald Blome held meetings with leaders of various political parties, including PMLN supremo Nawaz Sharif, PPP’s Yousuf Raza Gillani and IPP’s Jahangir Tareen, to discuss Pakistan’s political landscape and significance of an ‘enduring’ relationship between Pakistan and the United States.

This was the second meeting of Nawaz Sharif with a foreign dignitary after his return from London. The three-time former premier had previously met British High Commissioner Jane Marriot earlier this week.

During Saturday’s meeting, Nawaz pointed to the past interactions with US leaders, underscoring a mutual acknowledgment of the pivotal role of Pak-US ties. He shared his views on the political and economic situation of the country, particularly in the context of PMLN preparations for the upcoming general elections.

“He expressed confidence that the people of Pakistan would once again repose their trust in the PMLN to lead the country out of the myriad problems confronting it today,” said a PMLN statement. The two also discussed bilateral ties and cooperation on matters of mutual interest between the two countries and “acknowledged the importance of steadfast and sturdy partnership” between Islamabad and Washington. Trade, economy, climate change, security and regional stability came under discussion as well.

Nawaz raised the issue of the plight of innocent Palestinians being mercilessly killed by the indiscriminate Israeli bombardment and siege of Gaza. Blome apprised the PMLN leader of “shared US priorities” and thanked him for the meeting.

The US Embassy has also issued a short statement regarding Blome’s meetings with political leaders in Pakistan. As per the embassy statement, besides meeting Nawaz, the envoy met representatives of various political parties at a gathering hosted by Pakistan Peoples Party leader Yousuf Raza Gillani, as well as Istehkam-e-Pakistan Party leader Jahangir Tareen. The meetings were held in Lahore and Multan.

Gillani hosted a dinner in honour of Blome and Consul General Kirstin K Hawkins at the Gillani House, Multan. They discussed strengthening the enduring relationship between Pakistan and the United States and expressed the desire to enhance bilateral ties between the US and Pakistan. They discussed Pakistan’s commitment to regional peace, economic ties and political landscape of south Punjab for the coming elections. Gillani emphasised that the economic stability could be attained from political stability.

The meeting was attended by various political parties’ representatives from south Punjab including former governor Punjab Malik Rafiq Rajwana, former chief minister Punjab Dost Muhammad Khosa, Senator Rana Mahmoodul Hassan, Ayaz Khan Niazi, Meena Leghari, former MNA Khalid Khan Khakwani, Natasha Doltana, Shehnaz Saleem, Ahmed Mujtaba Gillani, Abdul Qadir Gillani and Ali Haider Gillani.

Later, Blome met Istehkam-e-Pakistan Party (IPP) Patron-in-Chief Jahangir Tareen and senior party leaders Ishaq Khakwani and Aun Chaudhry. Discussions regarding Pak-US relations and economic reforms were held. There was also a discussion between the US ambassador and the IPP leadership about the upcoming general elections.

Tareen put forward his stance regarding human rights and said the IPP was ready for the general elections. He said the IPP had started electoral and political activities. The American ambassador expressed determination for the stability of mutual relations with Pakistan.

Meanwhile, former president Asif Ali Zardari urged the United Kingdom to play a mediatory role in the ongoing war between Israel and Hamas to end the Israeli aggression against innocent Palestinians in Gaza. He made this appeal during a meeting with UK High Commissioner to Pakistan Jane Marriott at the Bilawal House in Karachi. He expressed his best wishes for British King Charles III on his birthday. He conveyed compliments to David Cameron on assuming the office of British Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs.

The meeting took into consideration the steps being taken to promote ties between the UK and Pakistan. PPP leaders Senator Saleem Mandviwalla and Dr Asim Hussain were also present.

Following the statement issued after the meeting between Blome and Nawaz, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) spokesperson rejected and termed it a serious interference in the country’s internal affairs. He said the US envoy desired that the people of Pakistan should express confidence in the PMLN once again by giving it a leadership role, which was contrary to the fundamental norms of diplomatic etiquettes, bilateral relations, international laws and a serious deviation from the traditions of diplomacy.

The PTI spokesperson said the content of the statement seemed a continuation of the same malicious conspiracy under which the ‘elected and legitimate democratic’ government of Imran Khan was ousted. He billed the PMLN Quaid as a ‘certified convict and absconder’.

He contended that the statement further exposed the plot before the entire nation, reminding that the ‘crooked and predatory’ family of Sharifs prospered in the nursery of non-political, undemocratic and unconstitutional dictatorships.

It always bargained and compromised on the interests of the country with internal and external bargainers for the sake of securing power. The convicted Nawaz Sharif, he alleged, always mortgaged the Constitution, democracy and national interest to foreign powers. He said at present, Nawaz could not even win his own NA seat, but efforts were afoot to crown this certified national criminal by bulldozing all democratic and constitutional norms.

He urged the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) to take immediate notice of the statement and seek an explanation from Nawaz. However, he made it clear that the nation would not accept any covert conspiracy or declarative action against national security, Constitution, democracy and transparency of elections.

He vowed that the PTI would not budge an inch on the agenda of ensuring supremacy of the Constitution, safeguarding democracy, upholding the rule of law and ensuring transparency of elections and securing Haqeeqi Azadi for the nation.