ISLAMABAD: Senate Chairman Raza Rabbani has accused India of using the Saarc platform to further its political agenda against Pakistan.

Mr Rabbani called upon the other member states of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (Saarc) to reassess the role of the association and not to allow any country to monopolise the forum.

These views were expressed by the Senate chairman during a meeting of the Senate delegation headed by him with the speaker of the People’s Majlis of the Maldives, Abdulla Maseeh Mohamed in Male, says an official handout released by the Senate Secretariat here on Sunday.

The delegation comprises Senator Sardar Zulfiqar Khosa of the ruling PML-N and Senator Najmul Hassan Malik from the Federally Administered Tribal Areas.

The Senate chairman emphasised that it would be appropriate for Saarc member states to censure such a move in future.

The Senate chairman brought to the notice of the speaker of the People’s Majlis the role of India in sabotaging the Saarc summit which was to be held in Islamabad.

Mr Rabbani highlighted the gross violation of human rights and international laws by India in occupied Kashmir. He further brought to the notice of the Speaker the use of pellet bullets and the loss of eyesight of innocent children.

He further stated that over 90 days had passed and the valley continued to be under curfew and innocent men, women and children had lost their lives. Their only fault, he said, was that they were demanding the implementation of the UN resolutions which granted them the right to self-determination.

Mr Rabbani called for greater parliamentary contact and exchanges between the two countries.

Published in Dawn October 17th, 2016