Bosnia Day reception held

Islamabad :The decayed economy with increasing confrontation between the government and opposition where judiciary has been dragged in by some official stalwarts, the high ups of the government’s rhetoric about the health of former Prime Minister, Nawaz Sharif, all parties conference of Maulana Fazalur Rehman, imminent ouster of few bigwigs from Buzdar administration and former President Asif Ali Zardari deteriorating health in prison were among the subjects of discussion by the guests. Impressive number of senior diplomats in the reception hosted by Ambassador of Bosnia and Herzegovina Brigadier General Sakib Foric Monday evening in a local hotel.

The occasion was National Day, Armed Forces Day and 25th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Bosnia and Herzegovina and Pakistan, three in one.

Former Special Assistant to Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Foreign Affairs Syed Tariq Fatemi, who was famous for voicing liberal and independent policy decisions regarding the foreign affairs while in government, made the difference in the diplomatic gathering with his appearance.

Tariq Fatemi is viewed among the architect of Pakistan policy towards China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). The ambassadors/high commissioners took keen interest in discussing with him Pakistan’s incumbent diplomacy. He was accompanied by his spouse member of National Assembly (MNA) Ms Zahra Wadood Fatemi, who is chairperson of Pakistan-Bosnia and Herzegovina Friendship Parliamentary Group.

Former Interior Minister and leader of the PPP, Rehman Malik, was among the conspicuous guests who narrated the health issues of his detained leader Asif Ali Zardari. Former State Minister for Interior Senator Doctor Wasim Shehzad, Governor KP Shah Farman, ambassadors of Saudi Arabia Nawaf Saeed Al-Maliki, UAE Hamad Obaid Al-Zaabi and Qatar Saqar Mubarik. Aziz Boolani also attended the reception. State Minister Ms Zartaj Gul was designated by the Foreign Office to act as chief guest in the reception.

She performed the cake cutting ceremony after plying of national anthems of the two countries. The guests were inquisitive about the claims being made by Maulana Fazalur Rehman that government will be packed next month and the country will see fresh general elections early next year.

Some guests were perturbed about the US approach towards the CPEC and its open opposition to the project. They were of the opinion that if the US cannot help in having fight with China, it should find some other battle ground. Desecration of Holy Quran incident in Norway was condemned by every guest in the reception irrespective of any faith.