ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Friday expressed its disappointment at the adoption of a resolution in the European Parliament calling for a temporary withdrawal of Pakistan’s preferential trade status with the European Union under the GSP+ mechanism in the wake of the recent anti-France protests in the country by a religious party.
In an official statement issued by the foreign office, it said that the discourse in the European legislature reflected “a lack of understanding” regarding blasphemy laws and religious sensitivities in Pakistan and the rest of the Muslim world.
“Pakistan is a parliamentary democracy with a vibrant civil society, free media and independent judiciary, which remains fully committed to the promotion and protection of human rights for all its citizens without discrimination,” said the statement. “We are proud of our minorities who enjoy equal rights and complete protection of fundamental freedoms as enshrined in the Constitution. Judicial and administrative mechanisms and remedies are in place to guard against any human rights violations.”
The European Parliament called on the European External Action Service (EEAS) earlier this week to “immediately review Pakistan’s eligibility for GSP+ status” in light of violence and discrimination against religious minorities, academics and civil society organizations.
It urged the EEAS to see if “there is sufficient reason to initiate a procedure for the temporary withdrawal of this status and the benefits that come with it, and to report to the European Parliament on this matter as soon as possible.”
A preferential trade mechanism, GSP+ allows developing countries to export some of their goods to the European Union without paying any duty.
The facility is offered to developing countries that ratify and implement 27 international conventions on human rights, environmental protection and good governance.
Pakistan has benefited from trade preferences under the GSP+ program since 2014 and has managed to enhance its exports from 4.5 billion euros in 2014 to 7.5 billion euros last year.
The European Parliament, however, expressed concerns over the violent protests in Pakistan by members of the proscribed Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) religious party which it said led to the anti-French sentiment in the country.
It also called on the government to review and repeal the blasphemy laws, saying they were incompatible with international human rights laws and were “increasingly used to target vulnerable minority groups in the country.”
The resolution urged Pakistan to amend the 1997 Anti-Terrorism Act to ensure that blasphemy cases were not tried in anti-terrorism courts and provided opportunity for bail to the accused.
It added that the EU member states must continue to support Pakistan with judicial reforms and capacity-building to ensure that lower courts were equipped to promptly hold trials for those detained and dismiss blasphemy cases that were not supported by sufficient reliable evidence.
Pakistan’s foreign office, however, said in its statement that the country had played an active role in promoting freedom of religion or belief, tolerance and inter-faith harmony.
“At a time of rising Islamophobia and populism, the international community must exhibit a common resolve to fight xenophobia, intolerance and incitement to violence based on religion or belief and work together to strengthen peaceful co-existence,” its official statement continued.
It added that Pakistan and the EU had multiple mechanisms in place to discuss entire spectrum of bilateral relations.
“We would continue to remain positively engaged with the EU on all issues of mutual interest,” said the foreign office.
Zohra Yusuf, former chairperson of the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan, told Arab News that Pakistan had committed to the European Union to improve its human rights situation in return for the GSP+ status, but “unfortunately the progress regarding the minorities, such as attacks on their worship places and forced conversions, has been very slow.”
“Pakistan may face economic consequences if we keep pandering to the religious right and radical groups which are often found involved in attacks against the minorities,” she said.
Pakistan ‘disappointed’ after Europe considers economic punishment for anti-France protests
https://arab.news/b3t4m
Pakistan ‘disappointed’ after Europe considers economic punishment for anti-France protests
- The European Parliament recently called for a review of Pakistan’s GSP+ status that led to an increase in the country’s exports to Europe
- Human rights experts say Pakistan may face economic consequences if it continues to pander to the religious right and radical groups
Pakistan’s president defends ongoing strikes in Afghanistan, urges Kabul to dismantle militants
- Afghanistan on Thursday launched attacks in retaliation for Pakistani airstrikes the previous Sunday
- Pakistan’s military says it is only targeting Afghan military installations to avoid civilian casualties
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s president on Monday defended his country’s ongoing military strikes in neighboring Afghanistan, saying Islamabad tried all forms of diplomacy before targeting militants operating from Afghan territory, and called on the Taliban government in Kabul to disarm groups responsible for attacks in Pakistan.
Pakistan earlier said it is in “open war” with Afghanistan, alarming the international community. The border area remains a stronghold for militant organizations including Al-Qaeda and the Daesh (Islamic State) group.
“(The Afghan Taliban) must choose to dismantle the terror groups that survive on conflict and its war economy,” Asif Ali Zardari said during a speech to lawmakers, adding that “no state accepts serial attacks on its soil.”
Afghanistan on Thursday launched attacks in retaliation for Pakistani airstrikes the previous Sunday. Since then, Pakistan has carried out operations along the border, with Information Minister Attaullah Tarar claiming the killing of 435 Afghan forces and the capture of 31 Afghan positions.
Kabul has denied such claims.
In Afghanistan, the deputy government spokesman Hamdullah Fitrat said Pakistan’s military fired mortar shells at a refugee camp in eastern Kunar province, killing three children and injuring three others.
Afghanistan’s defense ministry said Afghan forces carried out strikes targeting a Pakistani military facility near Paktia province, causing “substantial losses and heavy casualties.”
Pakistan’s military did not respond to questions. It has said Pakistan is only targeting Afghan military installations to avoid civilian casualties.
Pakistan has witnessed a surge of violence in recent months and blames it on the outlawed Pakistani Taliban, known as Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan or TTP. It operates both inside Pakistan and from Afghan territory.
Islamabad accuses Afghanistan’s Taliban government of providing safe havens for the TTP, which Kabul denies.
The latest cross-border fighting ended a ceasefire brokered by Qatar and Turkiye in October. The two sides failed to reach a permanent agreement during talks in Istanbul.
Zardari reiterated Pakistan’s call for talks, saying, “We have never walked away from dialogue.”
The Pakistani leader again accused Afghanistan of acting as a proxy for India by sheltering militant groups.
“Stop being used by another country as a battlefield for their ambitions,” he said.
Zardari cited a recent report from the United Nations Security Council’s monitoring team that described the presence of militant groups in Afghanistan as an extra-regional threat.
