Pakistan rebukes UK AG’s ‘divisive’ words

LONDON: Pakistan’s High Commission to the United Kingdom has rebuked Attorney General Dominic Grieve for his “negative and divisive” comments after the Tory MP singled out Pakistanis and branded them “corrupt”.
Dominic Grieve has apologised for “any offence “caused by his remarks and said he had not intended to suggest there was a “particular problem in the Pakistani community” but the fallout continues and Pakistan High Commission had waded into the row by stating that “the Pakistani diaspora in the UK is deeply disturbed by these unfounded and uncalled for comments made against them”.
In a strongly-worded statement, Pakistan High Commission said that Mr Grieve’s comments will not “help the steady growth of bilateral relations between the two countries that have grown from strength to strength over the years. Such unguarded comments would also have an adverse impact on the efforts of the Conservative Friends of Pakistan for building bridges with the Pakistani Community for the Conservative Party”.
Dominic Grieve has apologised for his comments but has refused to withdraw his comments. His office and the Conservative Party had initially tried to muddy waters by saying that the Attorney General didn’t make anti-Pakistani comments in an interview with the Daily Telegraph. Mr Grieve had said corruption was “endemic” in some communities and he was “mainly” referring to those of Pakistani origin.
Asked if he was referring to the Pakistani community in his comments, Grieve told the newspaper: “Yes, it’s mainly the Pakistani community, not the Indian community.”
Pakistan High Commission said ever since the publication of this interview, the High Commission has been approached by “thousands of diaspora members who have expressed their disgust towards these remarks by a senior Tory politician”.
It added: “The High Commission for Pakistan to the UK finds these remarks by Grieve MP totally unfounded towards the strong Pakistani diaspora in the UK that contributes nearly GBP30 billion to the British GDP and is in the forefront of efforts for cementing inter-faith and multi-ethnic harmony in a country home to millions of people of diverse backgrounds.”
The High Commission said: “Bizarrely, Grieve’s remarks are based on only one incident of electoral fraud which was dealt with by British Courts soon after it happened. It is extremely convenient to pass judgements on singular incidents, but it is important to emphasize that the diaspora may also make its own judgement about those who overly react in finding faults with a community that has been contributing immensely in all facets of British society especially by its greater participation in main stream politics.”