Amjad Malik`s Personal Page

Lord Ahmed meets US Diplomats in a delegation at House of Lords to convey community feelings on a new US policy

Press Release 

On 8th of October 2008 at House of Lords, Lord Ahmed met US diplomats with a four member delegation to air concerns of British Pakistani community on US attacks inside Pakistan and its repercussions on the people, region and the state of Pakistan.

Lord Ahmed in his letter to US Ambassador dated 08/09/08 protested over such attacks and called for a meeting with his small delegation to convey Pakistani community’s reservations Peter Lord, Political Officer and James Donegan First Secretary at US Embassy (London) met Lord Ahmed and his delegation consisting of Solicitor Amjad Malik (Vice chair of APL representing North), Barrister Abid Hussain (Association of Muslim lawyers), Tariq Dar a community leader from Brent and a business man Jameel Dada.
 
Lord Ahmed briefed them the fall outs of such policy and emphasised on the need of a genuine South African style reconciliation with all the stake holders in Pakistan. He reiterated what he said at House of Lords on 6 Oct that ‘what is needed is a genuine truth and reconciliation commission-a genuine centre for peace and dialogue where the Bugtis, the Mengals, the Murrees, The Maulanas and the Khans can sit and where every citizen of Pakistan can feel respected and equal citizen of Pakistan’.

Amjad Malik representing Lawyers & North insisted that US is failing in their perception to alienate Al-Qaeda from mainstream Pashtuns of Afghanistan and of Pakistan. He strongly expressed his reservations over US attacks inside Pakistan which lacks legality and will isolate it in the international community and in return alienate US in the eyes of common Pakistanis which will be  asset back for any drive against radicalisation & extremism. He asked them to reward Pakistan for their alliance in a difficult war and not punish it like Cambodia. Tariq Dar asked them to review Western double standards and Barrister Abid Hussain strongly expressed his views on selective national reconciliation and expressed strong reservation on the leadership of Zardari who was said to be suffering from ‘dementia’ and branded Mr. 10% by the West. He asked the diplomats to use the services of Lord Ahmed in any drive for a genuine all stake holders reconciliation. Jameel Dada briefed all about the insurgency situation in the province and the state of people who are affected, and picking up arms akin to a civil war.

Both diplomats heard patiently and avoiding answers to the question on new policy to strike inside Pakistan stressed the need of continuing a dialogue at all levels. They said that US wants stability in Pakistan and the last thing they want is instability in the region and US considers that Al- Qaeda, Taliban and insurgents are a real danger to Pakistan’s internal stability as well as a threat to the peace in the region and the World, though they think that Pakistan military is not looking at that threat and holds a different view. They think civilian leadership will share their view and rather than perceiving India as a threat to Pakistan, it will focus on inside internal stability  and will consider Al-Qaeda, Taliban and rising insurgency in Fata as the main threat which poses a bigger challenge to the state, the region and international peace. They emphasised that they are inclined to work with Civilian leadership to move ahead and advance to democracy, for national reconciliation with non violent conflict resolution. Lord Ahmed thanked the delegation after the meeting and both sides stressed the need to continue such interaction to listen to each other’s views. 

• Posted by valiantpk on 09/10/2008.
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