Pakistani political parties will not be invited to the 20th National Council of the Awami League scheduled to be held next month, the party’s Presidium Member Mohammed Nasim has said.
“There is no question of inviting Pakistan,” the health minister told reporters after attending a meeting of the reception sub-committee at the political office of the Awami League chief in Dhanmondi on Thursday.
Political leaders from 70 countries are expected to attend the Council scheduled for Oct 22-23, he said. The names of the countries from where politicians are being invited will be published soon, said Nasim.
Last month, Awami League Joint General Secretary Dipu Moni had said that the party had decided not to invite any political parties from Pakistan.
However, on Sep 20, while replying to a query from newsmen, Awami League General Secretary Syed Ashraful Islam said: “Not everyone in Pakistan was against our freedom. Therefore, some democratic parties might be invited. We have not taken any final decision yet.”
Later, reports came to the media that some political parties from Pakistan, including the Pakistan People’s Party and Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz), had been invited to the national council.
Dismissing such possibilities, Nasim said: “I have seen media reports that suggested the Awami League had invited Pakistani politicians to its 20th National Council. Who invited them? From where did you get such information? It is not right to publish something based on guesswork or speculation.”
“There is no question of inviting those who oppose the trial of 1971 war criminals. Not now, not in future,” he added.
Diplomatic relations between the two countries came under strains when Islamabad condemned the execution of the 1971 war criminals accused of aiding and abetting the occupation Pakistan army during Bangladesh’s War of Independence.
Meanwhile, Bangladesh has decided to boycott the SAARC summit scheduled to be held in Islamabad in November as a sign of protest against Pakistan’s repeated interference in Bangladesh’s internal affairs.
Source: Bd news24
