Pak Won’t Invite J&K Speaker Despite India’s Threat to Boycott
Pakistan’s National Assembly Speaker says it is India’s choice if it decide to boycott the meeting.
Refusing to budge from its stand, Pakistan has said come what may it will not invite the Speaker of the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly to the Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference. Pakistan also said that if India boycotts the meeting in Islamabad, it is “their choice”.
The assembly of Kashmir is not legitimate so we will not accept it, National Assembly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq said on Monday.
“If India does not attend the conference, because of the Kashmir issue, it is their choice. We cannot budge from our stand,” he said.
Pakistan has invited the Speakers of the Indian Parliament and the state assemblies but has refused to invite Jammu and Kashmir Assembly Speaker Kavinder Gupta.
India has threatened to boycott the conference, to be held in Islamabad from September 30 to October 8.
Pakistan PM Nawaz Sharif’s Special Adviser on Foreign Affairs and National Security Sartaj Aziz last week had said Pakistan will not invite the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly Speaker as it would compromise its position on the Kashmir issue.
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