Opposition calls for boycott of OIC meeting over invitation to Indian FM

ISLAMABAD: Opposition parties in the National Assembly on Tuesday criticised the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) for inviting Indian External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj as a "guest of honour" at the inaugural session of the foreign ministers' conclave in Abu Dhabi next month.

Leaders from opposition parties demanded Pakistan boycott the OIC meeting. The demand of the opposition parties following Indian aircraft violating Pakistani airspace across the Line of Control and being repelled due to the timely response of Pakistan Air Force.

“Pakistan should boycott the OIC meeting. It is an insult that our enemies are being invited as a guest of honour when Kashmiris are facing bloodshed,” Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Khawaja Asif said on the National Assembly floor.

Former NA speaker and PML-N leader Ayaz Sadiq also called on the government to raise the issue of inviting Swaraj as "guest of honour" with OIC. "OIC cannot invite anybody to its meetings without consultations with member countries," Sadiq said.

PPP leader and former foreign minister Hina Rabbani Khar also slammed the OIC for inviting Swaraj as "guest of honour". "We have to show the world that this nation knows how to protect itself and the politicians of this nation know how to stand together," she added.

MMA’s Asad Mehmood joined the chorus of politicians demanding the boycott of OIC and said, "It is wrong to invite the Indian foreign minister. Pakistan should speak to OIC and boycott the meeting."