KARACHI: The government took exception to the joint opposition’s threat of blocking the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) conference scheduled to start in Islamabad from March 22, warning that saboteurs would face strict action.

Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi urged PPP chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari to not become part of the Indian agenda, whereas Interior Minister Sheikh Rashid dared the opposition to try and block the moot if they had courage.

Separately, Sindh Governor Imran Ismail reminded the opposition that “the OIC conference is not about PTI politics. It’s about image and honour of our country”.

The reaction from government officials came after the PPP chairman with other leaders of the opposition parties while speaking at a presser in Islamabad in the afternoon warned the government that if the no-trust motion resolution was not tabled in the National Assembly on Monday, they would not let the international-level conference happen.

Qureshi hopes Bilawal won’t become ‘part of Indian agenda’; Rashid dares opposition to try and block conference

Mr Qureshi stressed that India was trying to sabotage the conference and hoped that Mr Bhutto-Zardari would not become part of the Indian agenda.

In a statement issued on Saturday, he reminded the opposition that the OIC meeting was not a government event but of the state of Pakistan, the APP news agency reported.

It was decided in the previous session of OIC foreign ministers that the 48th session would be held in Pakistan, he said, adding that letters had been sent in this regard and dignitaries would start arriving from Sunday (today).

He said the government would face the no-confidence motion in a dignified manner and no member of the National Assembly would be stopped from voting.

The minister said the government would not compel anybody but would remind the MNAs about their mandate and would face the no-confidence motion in a political, democratic and legal manner.

He said the resolution of the no-confidence motion had been admitted in the National Assembly.

The number of PTI members was complete in the National Assembly and its speaker would determine the date for tabling the motion, he added.

Sheikh Rashid

Meanwhile, Interior Minister Sheikh Rashid dared the opposition to try and block the OIC conference.

Talking to a news channel, Mr Rashid said it was a matter of national security and the army had taken up the responsibility of providing security to the arriving guests.

“As an interior minister, I challenge [the opposition] that if they have courage, they go ahead and stop the OIC conference. They would face such an action that they would advise their generations that matter of state security should not be disrupted.”

Imran Ismail

In a tit-for-tat warning to Mr Bhutto-Zardari, Sindh Governor Imran Ismail dared him to stop the upcoming OIC’s Council of Foreign Ministers and warned that anyone who attempted to disrupt the summit would face state action.

“Let’s see who has the courage to stop the OIC conference,” Mr Ismail told a press conference at Governor House.

“Is it a state or kind of a zoo that anyone turns up and says anything without thinking of its consequences?” he wondered. “The OIC conference is not about PTI politics. It’s about the image and honour of our country. It’s about building our global perception and it’s happening after 15 years. So, anyone who tries to put hurdles would face action from the state. The state knows how to handle them.”

Tahir Ashrafi

Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Religious Harmony Hafiz Tahir Ashrafi said the OIC summit and the March 23 parade were all joint programmes and urged the opposition “to give priority to national interest over personal interest”.

Imran Ayub contributed to the report

Published in Dawn, March 20th, 2022