Pakistan may ask some countries to reduce diplomatic staff

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan could ask the countries who aren’t favourably disposed towards Pakistan to bring their diplomatic strength and other facilities in Pakistan to the proportion Pakistan has in their respective capitals and other important cities. 

The government will look into the size and location of diplomatic missions of such countries here so that they shouldn’t pose any threat to the security of Pakistan. The presence of their diplomats in disproportion is contrary to the diplomatic norms observed across the world. Highly-placed diplomatic sources told The News here Sunday that some Western and Asian countries could be identified for the purpose and the intelligence gathering agencies are being asked to look into various aspects in this regard on urgent basis. 

The National Assembly in its special session to be held tomorrow (Tuesday) will also take up the issue. It will be private members day tomorrow and some important aspects of the foreign affairs including the last week’s narrative of US President Donald Trump regarding his country’s strategy towards South Asia would figure prominently in the course of discussions. He used obnoxious tone and tenor about Pakistan by hurling baseless allegations and using certain insinuations about Pakistan. 

The members of the House belonging to both sides of the division would talk in common language on the subject. It will convey Pakistan’s popular feeling to the world and especially to Washington on the subject, the sources said. Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq will facilitate the house to Suspend the rules for making the discussion possible since it would be private members day. The House will spend extra hours for the discussion to complete the debate on the matter. In case it is inconclusive, the proceedings could continue on the following day, the sources hinted. Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi will also take part in the discussion.

Foreign Minister Khawaja Asif will give policy statement on the issue. Some federal ministers will convey the sentiments of former prime minister Nawaz Sharif on the subject, the sources indicated. 

Summoning of the special session of the National Assembly has evoked enormous interest in the diplomatic Nadeem said that the government was taking all possible measures to address the fruit fly issue. Entomology Department Assistant Professor Dr Muhammad Dildar said that in 2013, almost all mango shipments/consignments from Pakistan were disposed of by the quarantine department of the UK because of detection of fruit flies inside the fruit. Dr Waqas Wakeel and Dr Abid Ali also spoke on the occasion.