Addressing a session of the National Assembly (NA), the foreign minister said, “We do not intend to interfere in your government for no reason.”
A few days ago, the law minister had hinted towards the possible invocation of Article 149 (4) in Karachi, but his comments received a severe backlash from different stakeholders in Sindh, especially from the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) government.
Naseem’s statement was rejected by several politicians, writers, intellectuals and civil society members who called for his immediate resignation.
Meanwhile, Foreign Minister Qureshi said, “We respect the Constitution, have always done so and will do so in the future as well. Sindh is an integral part of Pakistan and we will not damage provincial autonomy in any manner.”
He further said that PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari should not give the impression that the federal government was biased against Sindh.
He advised the PPP chairman that he had no right to use the Sindh card so early in his political career. He also criticised Bilawal for his irresponsible remarks in connection with “Sindhu Desh” and “Pakhtunistan”.
“Those who spoke about Pakhtunistan were defeated and those speaking about the creation of Sindhu Desk would be defeated too,” Qureishi said.
The minister also talked about the country’s recent diplomatic successes in connection with Kashmir, saying that India was now hiding behind propaganda to mask its failures in the occupied valley.
Moreover, the foreign minister said that four senators from the United States (US) had written to President Donald Trump and urged him to play a role in ending Indian atrocities in occupied Kashmir.
He also said that the issue would be raised for the first time in the European Parliament on September 17 and in the UN General Assembly on September 27.