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Published 21 Sep, 2017 08:21pm

Senate, Balochistan govt continue protest against 'Free Balochistan' posters displayed in Switzerland

In its Thursday session, the Senate agreed to suspend till further notice the workings of a Pak-Switzerland Friendship Group in reaction to the appearance of "Free Balochistan" posters in Geneva.

Senate Chairman Raza Rabbani claimed that the posters were an attack on Pakistan's sovereignty and demanded to know from Law Minister Zahid Hamid why the posters continue to be displayed in Switzerland even though Pakistan had summoned the Swiss ambassador and recorded its protest.

"According to the United Nations' Charter, no country can allow its soil to be used against another state," Rabbani stated.

Ambassador Farukh Amil, the permanent representative of Pakistan to the United Nations (UN), had previously written to the Swiss authorities to take action against the posters after reports of their sighting.

Senators demanded why Pakistan's embassy had not taken any action against the 'anti-state activity'. They insisted on expelling the Swiss ambassador from the country, echoing Rabbani's demand from a day earlier.

Balochistan Assembly passes unanimous resolution

The same day, the Balochistan Assembly passed a unanimous resolution tabled by Home Minister Mir Sarfaraz Bugti condemning the posters.

Balochistan Assembly Speaker Raheela Hameed Khan Durrani noted that "no country has the right to interfere in the affairs of our country".

The ministers termed the posters a "conspiracy against the people of Balochistan".

Terming the lack of response from the Swiss government "criminal", they declared that the posters were a "pre-planned conspiracy against the sovereignty of Pakistan."

The provincial lawmakers also urged the international community to play its role in bringing an end to what they termed were conspiracies against Pakistan.

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