Confusion over Chinese president’s visit to Pakistan
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ISLAMABAD: There has been a great deal of confusion on Thursday surrounding Chinese President Xi Jinping's visit to Pakistan and as to whether the trip has been cancelled or delayed.
Reports suggest that the visit, scheduled from 14th to 16th September, may be cancelled due to the ongoing political tensions in Islamabad between the government and protestors led by Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan and Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) leader Tahirul Qadri.
National Security and Foreign Affairs Advisor to the PM Sartaj Aziz said during an interview on DawnNews, that the Chinese leader’s visit will not be cancelled but it is a possibility that it could be delayed.
At the same time Minister for Planning and Development Ahsan Iqbal said on Twitter that the visit had been cancelled and lashed out at the PTI and PTA leaders.
However, the Chinese Embassy has said that they have no knowledge of President Xi Jinping's visit being cancelled and that they are monitoring the situation in Islamabad closely.
On Wednesday Foreign Office Spokesperson Tasneem Aslam told Dawn.com that the visit by President Jinping is on schedule and was not being cancelled or changed.
This statement was made after a high-level Chinese team comprising of security and protocol of the Chinese president arrived in Islamabad to finalise the dates of the visit.
Imran Khan and Tahirul Qadri have themselves given assurances that there would be no attempt on their part to create an impediment for President Jinping’s visit.
Khan and Qadri have both paid tribute to the Chinese president and have said that China was Pakistan’s closest friend.
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Comments (26) Closed
Sep 04, 2014 08:37pm
Nobody trusts the words of Khan and Qadri... both have lost their credibility after breaking one promise after another and another and so on
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Sep 04, 2014 08:40pm
Actually, the blame goes on the government. Its their incompetent, unwillingness to resolve a matter which should have been resolved 12 months ago. The government should have done MORE to investigate rigging and should have done MORE to accomodate 2nd largest political party in Pakistan and should have given MORE respect to 65million people who voted for PTI.
When you rule like mughal and kings and never attend parliament sessions, make false promises about fixing power issues in 3 months but then change that to 4 years, it is YOU, the government which puts Pakistan to shame and insults its poor and miserable people who believe such lies.
Democracies have protests and grievances all the time but competent and real democratic governments SOLVE those issues immediately and not turn small issue into a big nightmare and real democracies keep functioning even when protests are happening!
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Sep 04, 2014 08:45pm
What impression government wants to convey to the Chinese President by indulging into blame game! This tendency would just multiply your ineptness to the world which is already at its peak.
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Sep 04, 2014 08:56pm
Looks like Ahsan Iqbal was in hurry to release his tweet
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Sep 04, 2014 09:02pm
IK and Tuq does not care and why should they ..,? any blow to Pakistan ether it is financial , diplomatic , political or social makes them closer to there objectives....
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Sep 04, 2014 09:07pm
Chinese President's visit cancelled. Congrats! The west does not want Pakistan to go to China camp and for that they will do anything to ensure it. Do we need enemies? No. We only need TUQ and IK to deliver that.
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Sep 04, 2014 09:40pm
What about his trip to india
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Sep 04, 2014 09:41pm
This is a total failure of the govt not to handle domestic political problems in time. If these protests are prolonged the govt position would become more weaker of not focusing on international front.
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Sep 04, 2014 11:17pm
If the Chinese President is a true friend of Pakistan, he should cancel his visit right away to show consolidation with the oppressed people of this country who love Chinese people like no body else in the world.
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Sep 04, 2014 11:44pm
we already have so much going on and now this economical blows will really leave us another 50 years behind, but I wish not, we hope foreign investment as of China does not stop, many third world countries are hoping and wishing for such investments and we have it in the plate right in front of us. Please, Please Imran and Qadri , think about future of Pakistan.
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Sep 04, 2014 11:46pm
Another political stunt by PML (N) govt. which usually confused ruling party members
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Sep 04, 2014 11:46pm
We desperately need that foreign investment, China is at par with USA in technology and advancement right now, Pakistan need that Investment.
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Sep 04, 2014 11:47pm
@Maaz sure, but who can make them understand about economically successful Pakistan, after that is achieved no one will sit in Dharnas.
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Sep 04, 2014 11:51pm
Now I am going to lose my job soon because I was employed in chinese project and more like me as well. PTI has destroyed my and career of young individuals. Now these guys will have no jobs . Thanks to Mr. Khan , he and his kids are enjoying and we poor are dying. I will take my revenge by not voting them for ever.
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Sep 05, 2014 12:53am
Ahsan Iqbal says "Biggest diplomatic blow to Pakistan". No, no...the biggest blow is there is no foreign minister and the PM reads written notes when meeting world leaders.
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Sep 05, 2014 01:00am
@shafiq It is on schedule
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Sep 05, 2014 01:03am
Ahsan Iqbal says "Biggest diplomatic blow to Pakistan". No, no...the biggest blow is there is no foreign minister in the PMLN government.
Ahsan Iqbal says "They have caused shame to us". No, no... we are shamed when our PM reads written notes when meeting world leaders.
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Sep 05, 2014 01:04am
Saudi donation of $1.5 billion to Pakistan instead of receiving appreciation drew heavy criticism by the opposition parties and civil society. Similarly when Chinese were coming with land mark investment we scared them away. We are isolated in the international community and Saudis, China and Turkey are among only few countries that still willing to help us stand on our feet but i am sure now they must be thinking ...what a country.
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Sep 05, 2014 01:15am
ahsan iqbal is belying all of us when the Chinese embassy itself is saying that they don't have any knowledge of cancellation or delay of president Jinping's visit...
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Sep 05, 2014 01:16am
Ailing reputation of Nawaz Shareef is the only reason why the visit is not happening...
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Sep 05, 2014 02:15am
What difference will it make to common man of Pakistan if Chinese President does not visit. In Past many times US and Chinese presidents visited, but every penny of money received from them went to the pocket of these corrupt politicians. PML N is carrying as it will cause a big loss of contribution that they were expecting to receive for the kingdom of sharif brothers.
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Sep 05, 2014 02:53am
If Xi does come, the poor guy will have to meet all the four involved parties, and would not know who to believe!, a real dilemma, no.
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Sep 05, 2014 03:19am
Chinese are not stupid. Legitimacy of existing government is questionable. Chinese want to deal with the legitimate representatives of Pakistan.
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Sep 05, 2014 04:36am
Believe me, the Chinese will not trust Nawaz & Shahbaz anymore, the Brothers are exposed by IK and the Chinese President was supposed to sign MoUs worth Billions of Dollars (as claimed by the N-League Govt) because the Contracts are Loan under Pakistan Govt's Guarantee.This could be blessing in disguise to the Nation as we are already burdened under unprecedented Foreign Loans by this Government and there is no progress at all.
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Sep 05, 2014 06:06am
@shafiq Haha you care about your country, he cannot cancel his trip to India
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Sep 06, 2014 04:39am
It is worth pointing out that we have never released any information about President Xi's visit to Pakistan officially. So, there is no basis to say we are about to cancel anything.
Official Press Release of Chinese FO in 5th September 2014
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