By Asim Shahzad
LAHORE: Senior Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) leader Qamar Zaman Kaira has said that while Pakistan does not seek war, it reserves the right to defend itself if war is imposed. He emphasized that the Kashmir issue remains central to regional peace and urged India to honor its longstanding pledge of a plebiscite in the region.
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He was addressing a press conference at the residence of PPP Central Punjab Deputy General Secretary Usman Malik, flanked by Syed Hassan Murtaza, Chaudhry Manzoor Ahmed, and Chaudhry Aslam Gul. Other prominent attendees included Dr. Khalid Javed Jan, Dr. Khayyam Hafeez, Ahsan Rizvi, Sania Kamran, Bushra Manzoor Maneka, Chaudhry Riaz, Aziz Malik, Agha Taqi Shah, Rana Farooq Ashraf, Shakeel Pasha, and Rao Babar Jamil.
Kaira said Pakistan had achieved a significant moral, political, and military victory, with the nation standing united despite internal differences. “We have downed five Indian Rafale jets and responded to aggression within our right of self-defense,” he claimed, adding that Pakistan had consistently called for cooperation in investigation efforts.
Highlighting PPP’s historical role in national defense, Kaira said that Zulfikar Ali Bhutto laid the foundation of a strong defense system and HMC, where the JF-17 Thunder is now produced. He credited Shaheed Benazir Bhutto with bringing missile technology to Pakistan, and former President Asif Ali Zardari with revitalizing Pak-China ties. He praised Bilawal Bhutto Zardari for defending Pakistan’s position as Foreign Minister on global forums.
Syed Hassan Murtaza, PPP Punjab General Secretary, praised the professionalism of Pakistan’s armed forces and called their response to Indian aggression “unimaginable.” He criticized those seeking credit without real contributions to national defense, asserting that from soldiers’ weapons to national defense projects, the PPP has played a key role.
Chaudhry Manzoor Ahmed, In-charge of PPP Labor Bureau, stressed that averting war is the real success, warning of catastrophic consequences had the conflict escalated. He reiterated the PPP’s longstanding commitment to peace and diplomacy.
The leaders collectively called for political parties and institutions to adopt a policy of introspection and reconciliation, urging unity on national security and foreign policy issues.
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