Conservative Party Leaders vow continued support for Pakistan

Pakistan High Commissioner for UK Mr Wajid Shamsul Hasan, addressing at the reception

The UK Conservative Party leaders vowed to continue their support for Pakistan and to work for strengthening the ties between the two countries. They said this while speaking at a reception hosted by the Pakistan High Commission London at Birmingham in association with the Conservative Friends of Pakistan on 9th October, 2012, on the occasion of Conservative Party’s Annual Conference. The event was attended by a large number of prominent Conservative Party leaders including Rt Hon Lord Strathclyde, Leader of the House of Lords and President of the Conservative Friends of Pakistan, Rt Hon Francis Maude MP, Minister for the Cabinet Office and Paymaster General, Rt Hon James Arbuthnot MP, Chairman of the Defence Select Committee and Mr. Michael J Wade, Chairman of the Conservative Friends of Pakistan besides dozen other parliamentarians and over hundred of Mayors, Councillors and party members.

In his address Rt Hon Francis Maude appreciated and acknowledged the role of Pakistan Diaspora in UK’s political, social and economic life. He also lauded the excellent relations that have developed from strength to strength over the years especially during the Conservative Party government. He assured fullest support to Pakistan in its efforts for peace in the region, war on terror and socio-economic welfare of the people under a democratic government. While speaking on the occasion, Mr Michael J Wade noted that ties between the UK and Pakistan were rooted in shared history and were indissoluble. He further said that with the formation of the Conservative Friends of Pakistan group, these relations would go from strength to strength.

(From left top) Deputy High Commissioner Syed Zulfiqar Gardezi, Rt Hon Francis Maude MP and Mr Michael J Wade Chairman of the Conservative Friends of Pakistan addressing at a reception hosted by the Pakistan High Commission London, in collaboration with the Conservative Friends of Pakistan at Birmingham

In his welcome address, Pakistan High Commissioner Mr. Wajid Shamsul Hasan expressed complete satisfaction over the present level of Pakistan-UK bilateral relations, particularly after the initiation of Enhanced Strategic Dialogue (ESD) in April 2011. He expressed confidence that bilateral trade would reach the targeted figure of £2.5bn by 2015. While acknowledging UK’s fulsome support for Pakistan, the High Commissioner particularly mentioned Prime Minister David Cameron’s remarks that “Britain's friendship with Pakistan is unbreakable” and “Pakistan’s enemy is Britain’s enemy”. The High Commissioner praised the important role played by the Conservative Party leaders especially Foreign Secretary Mr. William Hague, Baroness Warsi, Rt. Hon Andrew Mitchell, Mr. Dominic Grieve, Lord Green, Mr. Alistair Burt  and Rt. Hon Alan Duncan in broadening and strengthening the bilateral relation between the UK and Pakistan. The High Commissioner sought Conservative Party’s support to the peaceful resolution of the Kashmir dispute. He urged them to dispel the misperceptions about Pakistani community created by the media and others and called for increased representation of British Pakistanis in the Party ranks. He also underscored that stringent immigration controls should not affect the prospects of learning of Pakistani students.

The High Commissioner also paid glowing tributes to the office bearers of the Conservative Friends of Pakistan, an initiative taken in May 2012 during former Prime Minister of Pakistan Yusuf Raza Gilani’s official visit to the UK.

The event carries on the tradition of close liaison maintained by the High Commission with British Parliamentarians and political circles across the political spectrum. This was also the first time that the Conservative Friends of Pakistan and the Pakistan High Commission joined hands to host the event.

 

 

Last updated: 12 October 2012