LAHORE: The visit of Prime Minister’s Adviser on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz to India was “ill-timed and ill-advised” in the prevailing tense situation between the two countries and has only brought disgrace to Pakistan, says Jamaat-i-Islami Emir Sirajul Haq.

Addressing central leaders of the party at its headquarters, Mansoora, here on Monday, he said New Delhi’s attitude towards Islamabad reflected hatred and deceit.

Mr Aziz had gone to India to participate in the ‘Heart of Asia’ conference held there on Sunday.

Mr Haq said India was not even willing to include the Kashmir issue in the agenda for bilateral talks, while the Pakistani rulers were dying for “friendship” with the country.

He said India was inciting Afghanistan against Pakistan in a bid to achieve her nefarious agenda. He also lambasted Indian authorities for preventing Mr Aziz from talking to the media during his stay there.

Mr Haq said that unfortunately, the objectives of Pakistan’s foreign policy were still not clear. There had never been an open debate in the parliament on relations with India and the overall foreign policy, he deplored.

“Our foreign policy is based on sudden happenings and tragedies and the government has never thought of a durable and strong foreign policy”, he said, adding, “had foreign policy been a priority for the rulers, a full-time foreign minister would have been appointed long ago.”

Meanwhile, addressing a journalists’ protest rally on The Mall against the closure of some TV channels by Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra), Mr Haq said the rulers wanted to “stifle every voice being raised against them.”

He demanded immediate restoration of the news channels as a “token of respect for the freedom of the Press”.

Mr Haq said the Pemra action was tantamount to “blindfolding the nation’s eyes and chopping off its tongue”.

He said Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif seemed to have forgotten the time when even his party workers had abandoned him but the media had stood by him and become his voice.

He warned if these news channels were not restored and “threats” to others were not stopped, the protest against the rulers would intensify.

Published in Dawn December 6th, 2016