MULTAN: Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi has said Pakistan wants friendly relations with India and seeks to resolve through dialogue all outstanding issues, including Kashmir, Siachen, Sir Creek and river water share.
Talking to newsmen after laying the foundation of a water supply scheme in Makhdoom Rasheed area near Multan on Friday, he said Pakistan had strongly condemned the Mumbai attacks of 2008 and wanted to see the culprits punished.
He said Pakistan had shared information with India and also given some suggestions in this connection.
Mr Qureshi described as baseless reports about permission given for drone strikes in Balochistan.
He condemned a recent attack on Kashmiri leader Mirwaiz Omar Farooq and said action should be taken against those involved in it. He said the Kashmiris’ struggle was peaceful and the attack was an attempt to harm it.
Replying to a question, he said the issue of a complaint by USAID to the National Accountability Bureau regarding corruption by NGOs in funds meant for flood-affected people was not related to the government.
Mr Quershi said the government was of the view that funds for flood survivors should be spent through it.
He said the government would have taken the responsibility and opted for an audit had the funds been spent through it. But the funds were spent by NGOs.
The minister said that a reduction in the number of British visas given to Pakistanis was not related to the Aasia Bibi case. “Our point of view is clear that no one should be punished without justice.”
He urged people not to try to settle personal scores by taking undue advantage of the blasphemy law. People who believed in the holy books respected the Last Prophet (PBUH), he said.
Mr Qureshi said Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani had set up a committee to investigate the inconvenience faced by Pakistani Haj pilgrims and action would be taken against people responsible for it.—APP
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