Tunisia commemorates 63rd anniversary of independence

Islamabad : The reception hosted by Ambassador Tunisia Adel Elrabi to commemorate 63rd anniversary of independence of his country here Wednesday evening turned into debating rendezvous regarding political developments in the country and tension between Pakistan and India.

The guests were surprised that in three time former prime minister Nawaz Sharif who served the country selflessly has been confined in a prison while former president Asif Zardari was simultaneously grilled by questioning of authorities appointed on different counts here and Lahore. Bilwal was also target of the grilling because of his father.

It happened on the second day of a federal cabinet meeting which was attended and addressed by Jahangir Tareen. The guests kept discussing future of the administration which is still dragger drawn with the opposition in the eighth month of the government.

The diplomatic guests were trying to ascertain what was transpired earlier in the day during the quizzing of Lahore and Islamabad. Ambassadors, high commissioners and senior diplomats were inquisitive to know about the working of the NAP that has become source of terror among their host country’s elite.

Some diplomats were raising the question about the reality and future of democracy in Pakistan. They asked some local guests about the justification of such persecuting agencies in a democratic order.

Russian Ambassador Alexey Y. Dedov told the fellow guests that his President Vladimir Putin will have meeting in the second week of June with Prime Minister of Pakistan Imran Khan as the two are likely to be present in Kyrgyzstan capital Bishkek to attend Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) heads of state/government meeting.

The Russian ambassador termed resignation of Kazakhstan President Nazarbayev one of the major recent events of the region. French Ambassador Marc Barety told the guests that agitation back in Paris has entered into a decisive phase. He said that at least three delegations are visiting Pakistan in coming few months.

Ukraine Ambassador Volodymyr Lakomov was briefing the guest about his country’s polls on May 21st. He said that his country wouldn’t permit Russia to medal in the affairs of Ukraine especially in the election days.

Iranian Envoy Mehdi Honardoost reminded that seven kidnapped security personnel by a terrorist group operational from Pakistan must be got released by Pakistan. He was of the view that presence of the outlawed group in Pakistan and captured personnel are source of irritant in the ties of the two countries. He said that the people in Iran are upset about the incident where the troops are martyred by such elements.

Tunisian Ambassador Adel Elarabi in his speech reminded that ever since Tunisia had gained independence, the leaders of the country invested in human beings as a mean and a strong civil society guided and helped deciders to set up the fundamentals of a modern and progressive society and state. He said that the people and government of Tunisia love each other.

Federal Minister Sahbzada Muhammad Mehboob Sultan was the chief guest in reception.

Renowned entrepreneur Luqman Ali Monal was congratulated by the guests on conferring of Pride of Performance which was announced earlier this month by the government.

Mayor Islamabad Ansar Aziz Sheikh, Aziz Bulani and former federal minister Senator Dr Shehzad Waseem were conspicuous among the guests.