Lobbying with expatriate community organisations across the UK, played a critical role in winning over, British Members of European Parliament (MEP) to the side of Islamabad during a vote on ratification of trade agreement between Pakistan and the European Union.
It was for the first time, that the British-Pakistani community was utilised, in a novel way, for lobbying and it played "a critical role in swinging the British (MEPs) to Pakistani side," on the Third Generation Agreement on Thursday, British MPS, councillors and political observers told APP here on Sunday.
For example Pakistan-British Trade and Investment Forum (PBTIF) and Pakistani Lawyers Association sent emails and letters to every British MEP, urging them, to support Islamabad, in clinching trade and co-operation agreement with the EU, they said.
PBTIF in its letter to British MEPs pleaded the trade accord between Pakistan and the EU would have strong implications for trade between London and Islamabad.
"It is the view of the PBTIF that the ratification of the agreement would assist in developing further mutually beneficial co-operation between the EU and Pakistan. It would also be seen as support for forces working for moderation, democratic values and human rights during the difficult current climate," said the letter.
PBTIF in its letter urged them to give consideration on this delicate issue and the important consequences the outcome of this debate will have.
Pakistan High Commission here, for the first time mobilised the community for lobbying with the European Parliament through using its influence upon their respective MPs and MEPs to get their support, on an issue of vital importance for the country of their origin, said the observers.
They opined this lobbying was possible because Dr Maleeha Lodhi, since her assumption of office as the Islamabad's envoy to London seven months back, had been in regular engagement with overseas community and held numerous meetings with it to listen both to its problems and brief it of her priorities.
Maleeha used new techniques of lobbying, she had learnt from her stint, as twice envoy, to the Washington D.C.
This was a combination of approaching directly to the MEPs and MPs and to use the phone text messages, requesting for their support for casting their vote in favour of EU's trade co-operation agreement with Pakistan.
Meanwhile British MPs and British Pakistani parliamentary candidates of major UK political parties, played an important role for lobbying with the MEPs to get their support.
They said the European Parliament's vote and support by the three major British political parties in the House of Commons, Labour party, Conservative party and Liberal Democrats, was an acknowledgement of Pakistan's key role in fighting against terrorism.
Member Central Executive of the Labour party and an upcoming politician Shahid Malik did quite a lot of lobbying in favour of Islamabad.
Mohammad Riaz, Tory Party's European parliamentary candidate for Yorkshire and Humberside, and Liberal Democrat European parliamentary candidate Qasim Afzal played their role by pleading Islamabad's case with British MEPs.
Mohammad Riaz lobbied with MEPs belonging to European Peoples Party and European Democrats and convinced them that their support for Pakistan to in the trade with EU, would ultimately benefit the poor of the country.
The ruling Labour MP Mohammad Sarwar told APP that its credit went to the MPs, peers and British Pakistani councillors who lobbied to influence MPs to support Pakistan's case in the European Union.
Lord Nazir Ahmed all major British political parties recognise that Pakistan has "gone very far to establish democracy and President Musharraf has delivered what he has promised in terms of elections. LFO, women participation."
Their support is a recognition that Islamabad had played "a significant role in co-operating with the international community," in its war against terror said Lord Ahmed.
He said whenever the Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group (CMAG) would meet, it would lift Pakistan's suspension to enable it play an important role in it.
Another Labour MP Khalid Mehmood said EU's parliament decision approve trade agreement with Pakistan was significant in two respects. One was that it was to recognise Islamabad's role in enhancing internationals security by joining hands with the international community in war against terrorism.
Secondly it was the work done by 1.5 million British Pakistanis who worked hard to lobby with their MEPs that they wanted them to support the case of Pakistan in the European parliament.