ISLAMABAD: Major political parties on Saturday welcomed Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif’s decision to accept Indian Prime Minister-elect Narendra Modi’s invitation to attend his swearing-in ceremony.
In their separate statements, the leaders of major political parties said Sharif’s invitation to accept Modi’s invitation was a step in the right direction that would pave the way for detente between Pakistan and India.
Former president Asif Ali Zardari on Saturday welcomed Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif’s decision to accept the invitation to attend the oath-taking ceremony of Indian Prime Minister-elect Narendra Modi.
PPP spokesperson Senator Farhatullah Babar said the former president termed the decision “politically correct and wise”.
“Such decisions are often not easy but are necessary and need to be taken by the political leadership in the larger national interest,” he said.
In a press talk on Thursday, Opposition Leader in the National Assembly Syed Khursheed Shah had advised Nawaz Sharif to attend the oath-taking ceremony.
Khursheed said he was a supporter of every step taken for the peace initiative, and if the prime minister attended the oath-taking ceremony of Narendra Modi, it will ease tension between Pakistan and India.
He was of the opinion that if tension eased between the two countries then the people of both countries will heave a sigh of relief.
“When we want to keep good relations with the United States and Russia then why not with neighbours,” he added.
Agencies add: In a statement, President Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Javed Hashmi also welcomed the government’s decision saying that Sharif’s visit was in the national interest. He said there would be progress on the core issues between the two countries.
JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman said by accepting the invitation, the Government of Pakistan had given a positive gesture to the Indian government.
Haji Ghulam Ahmed Bilour of the Awami National Party (ANP) said the prime minister had taken a very good decision to participate in the oath-taking ceremony of his Indian counterpart.
Jamaat-ud-Dawa (JuD) chief Hafiz Saeed said the nation, army and government should be on the same page when it came to the security of Pakistan.
Talking to media persons at the Karachi airport Saturday, Saeed did not approve of Nawaz’ visit to India and advised him to reconsider his decision. He also warned him to be very cautious during his visit to India.
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