ISLAMABAD – A high-level meeting chaired by Prime Minister Imran Khan decided to reject the TLP demand to expel French Ambassador to Pakistan. Credible sources told The Nation that Interior Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed, Religious Affairs Minister Noor ul Haq Qadri and other high level officials briefed the meeting over the latest situation arising out of the TLP agitation in Lahore and elsewhere.
Prime Minister Imran Khan was given a detailed briefing over the diplomatic as well as economic consequences of severing diplomatic ties with France, including expelling of French Ambassador to Pakistan.
The meeting was also briefed that TLP was doing all this deliberately to inflict economic damage to Pakistan besides pushing the country into diplomatic isolation.
The sources said the meeting decided to immediately present a consensus resolution before the National Assembly current session to condemn France for insulting acts. However, exact wording of the resolution would be decided in consultation with other parliamentary leaders in the Parliament, they said.
The prime minister directed law enforcement agencies to ensure that the writ of state is not challenged and lives and properties of common people are protected at any cost.
PM Imran to visit KSA in May
Prime Minister Imran Khan would pay an official visit to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in the middle of next month, where he would meet the Saudi leadership to discuss the fast changing regional and international developments as well as bilateral relations.
“The dates of the PM’s visit are being worked out by both the governments,” Saudi Ambassador to Pakistan Nawaf Bin Said al Malki told the media persons informally here yesterday.
Sources in the Pakistan Foreign Office say that the visit was earlier for April, but now it has been rescheduled for May, most probably before or after Eid ul Fitr.
The invitation to visit KSA has been extended by Saudi Crown Prince Muhammad Bin Salman to Prime Minister Imran Khan.
Bilateral relations with focus on economic and strategic cooperation would also come under discussion during the visit.
It is expected that Saudi investment for an oil refinery in Pakistan would also be finalised during the visit and talks in Riyadh.
The latest developments in the Middle East would also come under discussion during the meetings between the leadership of the two countries.
The sources said that Prime Minister Imran Khan would also take the Saudi leadership into confidence over the latest developments in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir.
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