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ISLAMABAD: Opposition Leader in the National Assembly Mehmood Khan Achakzai on Wednesday extended \u201cunconditional support\u201d to the government in its efforts for peace<\/a> in the Middle East.<\/p>\n Responding to Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar\u2019s speech, in which he requested the opposition to defer its protest<\/a> planned for Thursday, Achakzai said that in his speech<\/a> on Tuesday, he had called for former premier Nawaz Sharif, President Asif Ali Zardari and Imran to sit together in the current situation and move the country forward.<\/p>\n He said that he, along with Opposition Leader in the Senate Allama Nasir Abbas, would convince Imran to engage in political dialogue.<\/p>\n \u201cI had also said earlier that we should not point fingers at each other. At the very least, we should agree on democratic principles,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t know why you people think we are mad. Only a mad person would not be happy with today\u2019s success of Pakistan,\u201d he said, lauding the government\u2019s mediatory role<\/a> in the Middle East crisis.<\/p>\n \u201cWe will provide you with unconditional support,\u201d he said before declaring that the opposition was ready to hold talks with the government. He said the parliament should be the source of power and the centre of originating decisions and policies.<\/p>\n Achakzai said that US President Donald Trump had already stated that he had achieved his objectives<\/a> in the war with Iran.<\/p>\n Amid desk-thumping, the opposition leader praised Iran, saying that Iran has upheld the honour of all Muslims. He also suggested that Trump should engage in dialogue with all nations.<\/p>\n \u201cIf we are to talk about destroying civilisations, then why do we criticise Adolf Hitler and Missoulini?\u201d he asked.<\/p>\n He said Trump and Iran trusted Pakistan because they knew that whatever message would be conveyed would reach the other side effectively.<\/p>\n \u201cNature gave us an opportunity, and we handled it well,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n Separately, after holding talks with government representatives, PTI Chairman National Assembly Barrister Gohar Ali Khan returned to the lower house of Parliament and announced that, on Imran\u2019s instructions, the party had decided to cancel its public gathering for Thursday.<\/p>\n \u201cThere come moments of unity in the life of nations. We appreciate all those who have played a role in achieving the ceasefire,\u201d Gohar said. He said Pakistan had prevented the Muslim world from falling into internal conflict.<\/p>\n \u201cWe hope this ceasefire will turn into a permanent cessation of hostilities. We fully support peace negotiations,\u201d the PTI chairman declared.<\/p>\n \u201cSetting aside our grievances, we are moving forward for the sake of the country,\u201d he added<\/p>\n \u201cToday, our identity is linked to the founding chairman of PTI. The founding chairman of PTI has an eye condition, yet doctors of his own choice were not allowed to treat him. Even our leader\u2019s wife has been imprisoned despite being innocent,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n He said Pakistan was going to host negotiations and a government delegation approached the opposition, and \u201cwe conveyed a positive message to them.\u201d<\/p>\n During the session, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif lauded Pakistan\u2019s role in securing a ceasefire between the United States and Iran.<\/p>\n \u201cEuropean countries, our brotherly muslim countries, our friends in the region and beyond, all are praising our leadership \u2014 Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Field Marshal Asim Munir,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n Speaking about the unity of civilian and defence leadership in facilitating the peace, he said: \u201cIn the past, a lot of tragedies would have been prevented if the unity and understanding between the two cities [Rawalpindi and Islamabad] had been witnessed in the past.\u201d<\/p>\n He lauded the vision of the civilian and defence leadership for initiating the relationship, saying its \u201cdividends are in front of us in the form of victory over the eternal enemy\u201d last year.<\/p>\n He said that \u201cno one has a doubt on the victory\u201d over India, mentioning remarks of the US president who \u201cendorsed it\u201d several times.<\/p>\n Giving reference to the country\u2019s role in the US-Iran ceasefire, he congratulated the nation, saying \u201cit is a historical moment\u201d with several opportunities expected in the coming days.<\/p>\n \u201cThe entire world is praising [Pakistan\u2019s efforts], [even those] countries who do not know the location of Pakistan on the map,\u201d he said, adding these victories had become \u201cour identity and they are a dividend of our unity, cohesion and synchronisation\u201d.<\/p>\n He reiterated that the recent diplomatic success \u201cis the vision of our leadership\u201d and prayed that the \u201cunity, the policies and synchronisation\u201d would continue as they \u201care vital for the country\u2019s life and survival\u201d.<\/p>\n The defence minister added that the current achievement would have several dividends in the future, with a \u201cnew identity\u201d for Pakistan.<\/p>\n \u201cThe leadership of Pakistan has the ability to stop an international feud generated by the Zionist regime \u2014 Israel. Pakistan can play the role of a facilitator,\u201d he said, adding the Muslim world should \u201crecognise that our eternal enemy is India and Israel\u201d.<\/p>\n <\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<\/a>PTI calls off April 9 protest<\/h2>\n
<\/a>Asif lauds Pakistan\u2019s role in securing US-Iran ceasefire<\/h2>\n