March 20, 2007	Tuesday	Safar 30, 1428

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ISLAMABAD, March 19: Pakistan on Monday declared that the international community had not expressed any concern at the diplomatic level regarding the judicial crisis in the country and made it clear that comments on it would not be welcomed.

“As for the judicial reference itself, the matter is sub judice. We do not expect comments from international community about that,” Foreign Office Spokesperson Tasnim Aslam categorically stated while responding to a question at the weekly news briefing here.

On the comments about the situation in Pakistan in the foreign media and by various international human rights organisations as well as NGOs, she said: “This is a matter which is sub judice and I cannot comment on that and we would not like others to comment on it.”

When her attention was drawn to US Assistant Secretary of State Richard Boucher’s comment that it (judicial crisis) was a sensitive issue which needed careful handling and asked whether such a comment should have been made, she replied: “I think he did not have any intention of making comments about the situation he was asked.”

Dispelling the notion that it amounted to interference in the country’s affairs, Ms Aslam asserted: “I don’t think this is a comment that in any way implies interference in our internal affairs, especially when he did not offer this comment on his own.” Her response to a related question was: “Mr Boucher did not offer comments on his own. He was asked a very clear question and he was reacting to that. So you can’t blame him for saying what he said.”

The spokesperson wondered why in the first place this question was put to him and asked journalists in a rather agitated tone: “Can’t you discuss it among yourselves, can’t Pakistanis decide things on their own. Why do you need the views of the US and others?”

In an obvious dig at the media, Ms Aslam said that those who solicit comments “from visitors from abroad” about the country’s internal situation, later create a hue and cry about it. “And we start wailing that so and so has commented on our internal situation. We should first look at how this first came about,” she cautioned.

“When we go asking people their views about any internal matter in Pakistan, the fault lies with us,” the spokesperson emphatically said.

When reminded about the pattern of unwarranted comments emanating from the US about Pakistan’s internal matters and assurances on elections and democracy given to the Americans by President Musharraf himself on various occasions, Ms Aslam insisted that the president’s assurances were to the people of Pakistan.

The spokesperson was visibly amused when her comments were sought on a petition filed in the Supreme Court the other day to direct the Foreign Office to find out about the whereabouts of Justice Bhagwandas. She just smiled and let it pass.

On the deferred second round of Pakistan-US Strategic Dialogue, she said since there were no confirmed dates, the question of postponement did not arise. “Well that is very much on the agenda and the two sides are in touch,” she noted, indicating that there were no dates yet.

SAMJHOTA EXPRESS: To a query on findings of the Samjhota Express tragedy probe, Ms Aslam said India had so far not shared with Pakistan the result of the investigations, adding: “We are not sure if they have come up with anything solid.”