ISLAMABAD: Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs Chairman Awais Leghari on Thursday introduced a resolution before the committee to demonstrate solidarity with the government and people of Azerbaijan, which was unanimously approved.
The committee met in the Parliament House and endorsed the resolution which is as follows, “The Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs condemns the occupation of Azerbaijani territories by Armenia and the genocide committed by Armenian armed forces in the Azerbaijani town of Khojaly on February 26, 1992 against civilian population.
The Committee re-affirms the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Republic of Azerbaijan within its internationally recognized borders.
The Committee demands implementation of resolutions of the UN Security Council and the UN General Assembly on immediate, complete and unconditional withdrawal of all Armenian forces from all the occupied territories of Azerbaijan and calls upon the international community and international organisations to urge Armenia for the implementation of these decisions. The Committee supports the efforts of the Republic of Azerbaijan to resolve the Armenia-Azerbaijan Nagorno-Karabakh conflict by peaceful means.”
Representatives from the Foreign Affairs Ministry Cabinet Division and Law and Justice Ministry, earlier briefed the committee on the agenda.
National Assembly Member Shireen Mazari, formally introduced ‘The Ratification of International Treaties Bill, 2013’, a bill she had already moved, with its salient features to the committee for further discussion.
The chairman asked the respective ministries and divisions to prepare a more comprehensive briefing regarding the proposed bill for the next meeting. He also directed them to send their inputs, in writing, to the committee for members’ perusal.
During the meeting, the chairman remarked on agenda item no (iii) (a) “Budgetary proposals relating to PSDP for the financial year 2017-18”, that since the PC-II was not part of the information provided by the Foreign Affairs Ministry, therefore consideration on this agenda item could not proceed unless it was provided in the next meeting for formal consideration and approval.
The briefing by the ministry on agenda item no (iii) (b) “China, Russia and Pakistan trilateral talks on Afghanistan issue” was also deferred till the next meeting.
Committee members present at the meeting included, Sahibzada Muhammad Nazeer Sultan, Mian Najeebuddin Awaisi, Rana Muhammad Afzal Khan, Dr Nafisa Shah, Makhdoom Shah Mahmood Hussain Qureshi, Dr Shireen Mehrunnisa Mazari and Ghous Bux Khan Maher. Senior officers of the concerned ministries also attended the meeting.
