ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s National Assembly on Friday passed a resolution against a US House of Representatives resolution calling for a probe of alleged voting irregularities in the South Asian nation’s February general election.
The Feb. 8 vote, in which no single party won a clear majority, was marred by violence, communication blackouts and allegations by the party of jailed former Prime Minister Imran Khan that the polls were rigged. The country’s election commission denies this.
Ruling party lawmaker Shaista Malik tabled the resolution which was adopted by the National Assembly despite objections from lawmakers from Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party.
In a televised speech, Malik said the US resolution was “completely against the facts” and Pakistan would not tolerate any such interference in its internal affairs.
“The House further regrets that the US resolution does not acknowledge the free and enthusiastic exercise of the right to vote by millions of Pakistanis in the recently held General Election,” the resolution read.
Addressing a weekly news briefing, Foreign Office Spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch separately said Pakistan “deeply regretted” the resolution, saying it stemmed from an “inadequate and erroneous understanding of the political and electoral processes of Pakistan.”
“It is also an unsolicited interference in Pakistan’s domestic affairs,” she said. “We believe that bilateral relations between countries should be based on mutual respect and sovereign equality … The unsolicited interference from the US Congress is therefore neither welcome nor accepted.”
Baloch said Pakistan wanted relations with the United States “on the basis of mutual trust and confidence and non-interference in each other’s domestic affairs.”
“We also hope that the US Congress would play a more constructive role in strengthening Pakistan-US bilateral relations by focusing on avenues of collaboration for mutual benefit of the relations,” the spokesperson concluded.
Khan’s party won the most seats in Feb. 8 elections but fell short of a simple majority to form a government, paving the way for Khan’s political rivals lead by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to form a coalition government.
Pakistan parliament denounces US congressional resolution calling for probe into general elections
https://arab.news/cfvqq
Pakistan parliament denounces US congressional resolution calling for probe into general elections
- National Assembly adopts resolution despite objections from Imran Khan party lawmakers
- February 8 vote was marred by violence, communication blackouts and allegations of rigging
Pakistan’s Punjab deploys satellites, drones, AI to combat smog
- Senior minister warns industrial masks may become necessary without a change in public attitudes toward pollution
- Cities in Punjab face worsening smog each winter, driven by crop burning, vehicle emissions and industrial pollution
ISLAMABAD: Punjab Senior Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb on Wednesday said Pakistan’s most populous province deployed satellites, drones and artificial intelligence to tackle smog, warning that industrial masks may become necessary if public attitudes toward air pollution did not change.
Punjab cities face worsening smog each winter, driven by crop burning, vehicle emissions and industrial pollution that threatens public health and daily life. The smog season typically begins in late October, peaks between November and January and can persist through February.
Smog causes symptoms such as sore throats, eye irritation and respiratory illnesses, while prolonged exposure raises the risk of stroke, heart disease and lung cancer. Children are more vulnerable due to higher breathing rates and weaker immune systems.
“We have the AI machine-learning forecasting system in place, surveillance drones and technology cameras,” Aurangzeb said while addressing an event.
“At present, what is considered one of the world’s best environmental protection forces — with training, equipment, technology and digitally integrated data — is operating in Punjab,” she added.
Aurangzeb said surveillance is now being carried out through drones.
“There is monitoring, technology, cameras,” she continued. “Everything is digital.”
The minister maintained the eastern corridor from India was a major source of smoke which becomes active during the winter season.
She said this was the first time a complete testing system was introduced by the Environmental Protection Agency to measure pollution released by vehicles.
She added the government has loaned 5,000 super seeders to farmers, which are agricultural machines that plant crops directly into fields without removing leftover stubble, reducing crop burning, and helping curb winter smog.
Aurangzeb warned the situation could reach a point where people may have to use industrial masks and carry therm around like a “purse or wallet.”
“This will become a mandatory item if we do not change our attitudes and habits toward air quality, climate and conservation.”
Pakistan’s main urban centers routinely rank among the most polluted cities in the world, with vehicular emissions remaining one of the top contributors to air pollution.
The severe air pollution also undermines economic productivity and diminishes the quality of life for millions of residents.
