PTI govt to ensure implementation of National Action Plan: Qureshi

ISLAMABAD: Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi on Wednesday said the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI) government will ensure the implementation of the National Action Plan (NAP).

Speaking to reporters in Islamabad, Qureshi said, “It is with regret that I say there was no encouragement on the political side for the National Action Plan. There was no commitment in the previous government; however, the PTI government is committed to ensuring the implementation of the NAP.”

“We have invited opposition before and invite them still to sit with us, to arrive at a consensus over NAP,” the foreign minister added.

Qureshi further said he had personally contacted the leaders of Pakistan Peoples Party and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz. “The political leaders' behaviour was not negative, but they hesitated to act promptly on such issues of national importance. I can understand why there was hesitation,” he added.

In an earlier interview with BBC, Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry had said the PTI government believes the country still needs military courts, but any extension in their term remains conditional on consensus among political parties.

Chaudhry had said the government believes the need for military courts continues to exist and their term would be extended if there is consensus among the political parties.

Earlier, while addressing a conference at the Institute of Policy Study on "Pakistan-India Relations and acceleration of freedom movement in occupied Kashmir", Qureshi said he regretted the silence by the global community over the growing plight of the Kashmiri people.

He paid tribute to the people of occupied Kashmir who are continuing their freedom struggle despite the raging Indian violence and atrocities.