LAHORE: European Parliament’s vice president Fabio Massimo Castaldo has announced full support for Pakistan’s position on held Kashmir and controversial Indian law besides supporting Pakistani for extension to GSP-Plus status.

Mr Castaldo was speaking at a press conference accompanied by Governor Chaudhry Sarwar at Governor’s House on Friday.

Earlier, Mr Castaldo, along with European Parliament (EP) member Wajid Khan and Pak-Europe Friendship Federation chairman Chaudhry Pervez Iqbal, called on Mr Sarwar and discussed regional situation, Kashmir issue, India’s war hysteria and extension to GSP-Plus status for Pakistan.

Mr Castaldo, who is also vice president of EP’s Human Rights Committee, acknowledged that Pakistan had sacrificed 70,000 lives in the war against terrorism and establishment of peace. He said India was committing violations of human rights in the held Kashmir where women, children and youth were being treated inhumanly which could not be ignored at any cost.

The EP vice president said Pakistan was rightly sticking to its stance of resolving Kashmir issue and restoring peace through dialogue. He demanded India not to unleash atrocities on the people living in occupied Kashmir as they the right to live a free life.

Mr Castaldo said the new citizenship act in India was against the human rights and hoped the country would review it as all the citizens had equal basic human rights. He said Germany and France had fought for centuries but now they were best friends and suggested that India should also resolve issues through dialogue with Pakistan.

The governor said his meeting with Mr Castaldo was very successful, adding: “It is a matter of pride for me and Pakistan as I have held meetings with 36 members of European Parliament (EP) during my visit to Europe a few days ago and talked to them on Kashmir issue, India’s war hysteria and GSP-Plus status”.

He said that on his invitation, the EP’s vice president had come to Pakistan and added the EP would soon invite Prime Minister Imran Khan to address the European Parliament.

Mr Sarwar said the controversial Citizenship Act in India was undoubtedly illegal and inhuman. He said Indian PM Narendra Modi and Indian terrorist organisation, RSS, were two sides of the same coin and RSS March in India had proved that Modi was planning genocide of Muslims through the RSS. He demanded the international powers take notice of Indian atrocities instead of becoming silent spectators.

Answering a question, the governor said all meetings held with members of the EP with regard to extension to GSP-Plus status and EP vice-president’s visit would help Pakistan get extension to GSP-Plus status.

EP member Wajid Khan and Pak-Europe Friendship Federation chairman Chaudhry Pervez Iqbal also spoke.

Published in Dawn, December 28th, 2019