President SCBAP terms US sanctions on NDC as direct meddling security-related matters

ISLAMABAD, Dec 19 (EPI): President Supreme Court Bar Association of Pakistan Mian Muhammad Rauf Atta on Thursday has termed US sanctions as direct meddling in our all-important security-related matters and direct interference in the internal affairs of Pakistan.

Mian Muhammad Rauf Atta,in his statement has said that Supreme Court Bar Association of Pakistan (SCBAP) has always stood for unqualified, unconditional, and absolute sovereignty, security, and protection of Pakistan, and in doing so, we want to put on record, our serious exceptions and apprehensions over the recent imposition of US sanctions on National Development Complex (NDC) and three commercial entities. We strongly denounce these sanctions, which are based on hearsay and lack substantial evidence.

We want to assert that such US sanctions are direct meddling in our all-important security-related matters and direct interference in the internal affairs of Pakistan. Global forces, such as the US, need to understand that every country has a right to take bare-minimum measures to maintain and ensure its internal as well as territorial security.

We want to make it abundantly clear that such a move will increase the risks to non-proliferation, thus endangering the peace and stability in the region. We believe that such sanctions will undermine our commitment to economically robust Pakistan.

Since independence in 1947, we recognize US as trustworthy strategic partner. We have always tried to develop fair terms with the US by promoting people-to-people interaction to shape our bilateral relations based on common mutual interests; however, it goes without saying that all our fairness has often received political posturing.

It needs mention here that both countries are allies in the war against the menace of terrorism, a tough choice to make considering the consequences that have cost us dearly.

We encapsulate such unfair imposition of sanctions, a shocking move to disturb the peace and stability of the region, and a deliberate attempt to marginalize and destabilize the Independent state of Pakistan.

We bestow our fullest and outright confidence in our state institutions in such extremely sensitive matters. We call upon the government of Pakistan and all concerned state institutions to leave no stone unturned for the progress, safety, security, and stability of Pakistan and the region.

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