KARACHI: “It would be in the interests of the two Dominions to come to an agreement regarding outstanding matters in connection with evacuee property. But this was possible only if India accepted the terms of the Delhi Agreement as the basis on which discussions could be continued,” says Pakistan’s Deputy Minister for Refugees and Rehabilitation, Dr Ishtiaq Husain Qureshi, in a … statement issued in Karachi yesterday … [Nov 9] on … India’s new Evacuee Property Ordinance. He adds: “It is obvious that Pakistan cannot be a party to the acceptance of violations of this agreement by India as a fait accompli.”

Dealing with Mr Gopalaswami Ayyangar’s recent statement … at Delhi that he intended to put the question of evacuee property for final decision before an Inter-Dominion conference, Dr Qureshi says he is not aware of such a suggestion having been received from … India.

He comments acidly: “It has become customary for Indian Ministers to accuse the Government of Pakistan of violations of agreements … the Inter-Dominion Agree­ment of Delhi has been violated in many respects by India and most glaringly by extending her evacuee property legislation to non-agreed areas.”

Published in Dawn, November 10th, 2024

Opinion

Editorial

Afghan strikes
Updated 26 Dec, 2024

Afghan strikes

The military option has been employed by the govt apparently to signal its unhappiness over the state of affairs with Afghanistan.
Revamping tax policy
26 Dec, 2024

Revamping tax policy

THE tax bureaucracy appears to have convinced the government that it can boost revenues simply by taking harsher...
Betraying women voters
26 Dec, 2024

Betraying women voters

THE ECP’s recent pledge to eliminate the gender gap among voters falls flat in the face of troubling revelations...
Kurram ‘roadmap’
Updated 25 Dec, 2024

Kurram ‘roadmap’

The state must provide ironclad guarantees that the local population will be protected from all forms of terrorism.
Snooping state
25 Dec, 2024

Snooping state

THE state’s attempts to pry into citizens’ internet activities continue apace. The latest in this regard is a...
A welcome first step
25 Dec, 2024

A welcome first step

THE commencement of a dialogue between the PTI and the coalition parties occupying the treasury benches in ...