Gilani meets House of Commons Speaker, calls for stronger Pak-UK ties

ISLAMABAD: Chairman of the Senate, Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani, stated on Monday that Pakistan greatly values its bilateral relations with the United Kingdom (UK) and aims to further expand these ties to new levels for mutual benefit.

He expressed these views during a meeting with Speaker of the House of Commons, Lindsay Hoyle, while visiting the UK. The Chairman of the Senate, accompanied by a delegation of Senators, is in the UK to explore opportunities for strengthening bilateral, multilateral, and institutional cooperation in various sectors, according to a statement issued by the Senate Secretariat.

The Chairman of the Senate was joined by Senators Agha Shahzeb Durrani, Faisal Salim Rehman, Ashraf Ali Jatoi, and Members of the National Assembly Syed Abdul Qadir Gilani and Syed Qasim Ali Gilani during the meeting.

In his opening remarks, the Chairman highlighted the historical and cultural ties between both sides and emphasised that these ties have paved the way for deepening political, diplomatic, and economic relations, as well as people-to-people contacts.

He noted that the Pakistani diaspora acts as a bridge between Pakistan and the UK, providing a solid foundation for a dynamic and prosperous partnership. The Chairman Senate also recognized the importance of broad-based parliamentary cooperation, stating that Pakistan values parliamentary diplomacy and the sharing of democratic experiences within the Commonwealth.

The meeting also discussed the Enhanced Strategic Dialogue between Pakistan and the United Kingdom, established in 2011 to guide bilateral relations. The Chairman Senate proposed converting the Enhanced Strategic Dialogue (ESD) into an enhanced strategic partnership. Additionally, he raised the issue of human rights abuses in Indian-occupied Jammu and Kashmir, urging British MPs to continue highlighting these abuses in the UK Parliament.

Regarding Gaza, the Chairman Senate mentioned that Pakistan is actively working through relevant forums to end atrocities in the region and called on the UK to speak out against human rights violations. He emphasised the importance of maintaining high-level visits and frequent exchanges between the two governments, parliaments, and peoples.

The Speaker of the House of Commons appreciated the Chairman Senate’s remarks and emphasised the need for a broad-based relationship between the two sides, acknowledging the historical cordial relations between Pakistan and the UK.

Senators Faisal Salim Rehman, Agha Shahzeb Durrani, and Ashraf Ali Jatoi also met with Secretary General CPA Stephen Twigg to enhance institutional cooperation between the Senate and CPA, focusing on discussions and debates concerning CPA member states.