Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP)'s deputy parliamentary leader in the National Assembly, Makhdoom Shah Mehmood Qureshi, on Tuesday advised the governments of India and Pakistan to fight poverty, illiteracy, injustice, deprivations, hunger and both should strengthen bilateral cultural, economic, trade and diplomatic ties for the development at both sides. Shah Mehmood Qureshi was talking to an Indian delegation, comprising local government and civil society representatives, which is on a study tour nowadays.
The delegation led by Ash Narain Roy, comprising Muhammad Umar Ansari, Tilling Dolley, Nerella Sharada, M Sudha, Om Tandan, Madhu Sudan Nair, Hansaben J. Gamit, Khan Abdul Gani, C. Narayanasawamy, V.R.Sukunya Rajarathinam, Rajathi Samsuddin, R K Chadha and others.
Qureshi said in fact Pakistan and Indian are two separate nations, having their own flags, different constitution, creed and ideology but their problems were common. Both the nations were facing the similar challenges of poverty, starvation, population growth, unemployment, illiteracy and energy crisis.
He said the Saarc could not achieve its objective if the conflict between the two major members and the neighbouring countries continued. In this regard the Saarc should play a significant role in developing & strengthening the relations between the governments of India and Pakistan.
He said to improve relations between the two countries it is must to establish common trade, exchange of delegates, including of students, traders, businessmen, industrialists, scientists and agriculturists to share their experiences with each other.
Shah Mehmood was of the view that people of both the countries can play a vital role for improving the relations between the two sides.
Realising the situation, the PPP leader said we have to learn democracy, fair and free election process by independent election commission of India where losing party accepted its failure and did not level the allegation of rigging or manipulation in the election results.
He further said that there are 28 federating units in India with different languages, cultures and creed but they have been running their business smoothly. But, here in Pakistan we are unable to keep satisfy to even four provinces.
He said that India faces communal riots, natural calamities, floods, hurricanes but they never called army for the assistance of civil administration.
Talking about the Kashmir issue, Shah Mehmood said we want the resolution of Kashmir issue in the light of UN resolution.
Pakistan People Party was the first political force, which had provided a base for negotiation with India and Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and Indira Gandhi had signed Simla Accord.