ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Fawad Chaudhry on Sunday castigated an opposition senator for his criticism of foreign policy with reference to the country’s relations with neighbouring Iran.

Angry over the remarks of Senator Mushahid Hussain Sayed in which he had asked the government “to set its house in order”, the minister said the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) senator would neither become a foreign minister nor would he be satisfied with the government’s actions.

Mushahid Hussain Sayed, who is chairman of the Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs, in a tweet had stated that Pakistan must “not allow its territory to be used against any other country”.

Fawad advises PML-N legislator to avoid undertaking foreign trips on Senate expense

“Pakistan too, must set its own house in order: not allow its territory to be used against any other country, especially in the context of Iran’s current complaint, following last November’s freeing of 5 Iranian soldiers who were kidnapped/held captive by terror groups on Pakistan soil,” writes Mr Sayed.

Responding to the PML-N senator’s tweet, the information minister tweeted that India was not offering immigration to some people, otherwise “we will have got rid of them”.

Fawad Chaudhry also advised Mr Sayed to “refrain from undertaking foreign tours by spending funds of the Senate”.

“India is not offering immigration to some people, otherwise we will have got rid of them. How much we need to set our house in order? Neither you are to become foreign minister nor will you be satisfied with the steps of the government: Kindly, avoid undertaking foreign trips on Senate expense. It is surprising that you have been asked to represent Kashmir. Thanks for your service,” the minister said.

Meanwhile, Pakistan Peoples Party secretary general and former senator Farhatullah Babar in a tweet expressed concern over the government’s foreign policy with reference to the country’s relations with neighbouring countries.

Published in Dawn, February 18th, 2019