ISLAMABAD: The Foreign Office on Monday rejected Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s allegations of interference in Gujarat state assembly elections, asking him to stop relying on conspiracies.

“India should stop dragging Pakistan into its electoral debate and win victories on own strength rather than fabricated conspiracies, which are utterly baseless and irresponsible,” FO spokesman Dr Muhammad Faisal tweeted.

He was responding to PM Modi’s allegations that Pakistan was collaborating with Congress leaders to influence state assembly polls in Gujarat where voting in the second phase is scheduled for Thursday (Dec 14).

Mr Modi had in a speech at an election rally alleged that his predecessor Dr Manmohan Singh, former vice president Hamid Ansari and former army chief Deepak Kapoor had met Pakistan’s High Commissioner to India Sohail Mahmood and the former foreign minister at the residence of Indian leader Mani Shankar Ayar. A day after the alleged meeting, the Indian PM said, Mr Ayar cast a slur on him, calling him a “neech” (lowly person).

Announces PM Abbasi will attend extraordinary OIC summit on Jerusalem in Istanbul on 13th

Mr Modi also pointed to a social media post by a former Pakistani defence official in support of Congress leader Ahmed Patel as the next chief minister of Gujarat.

Pakistan has always been a major issue in elections in India, but for a different reason. It is perhaps the first time that a sitting prime minister is alleging that Pakistan is meddling in polls. It is believed that by doing so Mr Modi was trying to whip up anti-Pakistan sentiments after realising that his Bharatiya Janata Party’s position was not strong.

The BJP has governed Gujarat for 22 years, but Congress, together with some small groups, is hoping to win the upcoming elections by exploiting the aggravating agriculture crisis, and the nationwide goods and services tax.

Senior BJP leader and law minister Ravi Shankar Prasad rejected the FO’s reaction, asking the Pakistan government to keep its advice to itself.

Congress denied the allegation and challenged PM Modi to send back the Pakistani high commissioner if he was involved in such an affair.

PM Abbasi to attend OIC summit

Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi will attend an extraordinary OIC summit on Jerusalem being held on Wednesday (Dec 13) in Istanbul.

The summit will be preceded by a meeting of the Council of Foreign Ministers which will be attended by Foreign Minister Khawaja Asif, according to the Foreign Office.

The summit has been called by the Turkish president in his capacity as chair of the OIC summit. Most member states of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation are expected to participate in the summit which will discuss the recent decision by the United States to shift its embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. The OIC leaders will also explore ways of dealing with the situation.

Prime Minister Abbasi will convey the sentiments of the people and government of Pakistan of the unequivocal support to the people of Palestine. He will stress upon the OIC for a united stance on the issue of Al-Quds and call upon the Trump administration to review its decision.

Published in Dawn, December 12th, 2017