PTI Leaders in Kot Lakhpat Jail Call for MPC on US-Israel Aggression Against Iran

Jailed Leadership Say Expectations of Iran’s Surrender Unrealistic

ISLAMABAD: Senior leaders of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) detained at Kot Lakhpat Jail urged that PTI as the main opposition party must immediately convene a multi-party conference (MPC) of like-minded parties under the platform of Tehreek Tahafuz Ayin Pakistan (TTAP), to deliberate and evolve a consensus on aggression against Iran by US and Israel.

In a joint statement issued by PTI Central Media Department (CMD) on Monday, PTI detailed leader former foreign minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi, ex-health minister Dr Yasmin Rashid, ex-senator Ejaz Chaudhry, ex-minister Mian Mahmood-ur-Rasheed and former Punjab governor Omar Sarfraz Cheema emphasized that the proposed MPC should also deliberate on Iran’s retaliation against Gulf States and the reasons behind UAE’s decision for the immediate return of money deposited with the State Bank of Pakistan for balance of payment support.

The statement reads: “This platform should also consider what extent was failure of FBR to meet its revenue targets responsible for the unprecedented rise in the price of petrol and diesel and effectiveness of the mechanism put in place for the transfer of subsidies to motorcyclists, small farmers and transport sector.”

They emphasized that a prolonged conflict will certainly threaten Pakistan’s painfully achieved macro economic stability, as it will undermine our energy and food security. “Mounting inflationary pressures will not only impact the purchasing power of the people, it will push more people beneath the poverty line,” they alarmed.

PTI jailed leaders pressed that diplomatic efforts underway to de-escalate regional tensions through a quadrilateral huddle in Islamabad, endorsed by China must be strengthened.

“Pakistan must advocate settlement of disputes peacefully through dialogue and diplomacy, respect of sovereignty and territorial integrity of states,” the statement reads. They reminded that international humanitarian laws prohibit attacks against civilians and civilian infrastructure. The party leaders stated that strikes against nuclear installations are alarming and will expose Iran and its neighbours to horrific consequences, insisting that Pakistan must support respect for freedom of navigation and request the international community to address the root cause for the closure of the Strait of Hormuz.

“International community should not overlook rogue behaviour of certain states. Rising trend of flouting international laws and established international norms must be collectively discouraged,” they urged.

The statement reads: “Iran’s decision not to acquire nuclear weapons, its willingness to negotiate, its desire for a comprehensive peace and its keenness to exit the war with an international guarantee of no future aggression must be respected.” They stated that the restraint shown by Gulf states that have suffered on account of retaliatory strikes by Iran must be recognised and appreciated. “Closure of the Strait of Hormuz is affecting countries and economies beyond the region. Threats of bombing Iran to stone ages will only add fuel to fire,” they added. PTI jailed made it clear that expectations of a total surrender by Iran are unrealistic.

“Trump administration must reflect over sharp divisions within the UN Security Council, reluctance of NATO allies to support the war and an overwhelming majority of the American public saying “No to war”, the statement added. They said that US and Iran must demonstrate flexibility and undertake measures to protect the world from war and a global recession.

“To successfully deal with the consequences of the Gulf conflict, political consensus and harmony within Pakistan is of paramount importance because Pakistan can neither ignore its neighbours nor its strategic friends,” they pressed.

They concluded that the people of Pakistan are silently observing the foresightedness of the rulers.