Geo News is my favorite channel, says Pakistan envoy to US
HOUSTON : Pakistani Ambassador in US Mr. Jalil Abbas Jilani has claimed that democracy is getting strengthened in Pakistan. He said American administration is also of the opinion that there is no...
September 04, 2014
He said that Geo is his favorite channel which he watches regularly. He said that he really doesn’t know about the ban on Geo in Pakistan as all these channels can be seen in US.
He was talking to Jang/ Geo Group correspondent in a local hotel during his visit to Houston Texas.
He said that he has not been given any special instructions for the current political situation in Pakistan.
“Directives I received were for my professional responsibilities as ambassador to work towards improved and good relations with US”
“I was instructed to improve relations with Pakistani business owners in US. He said that he wanted to confine his role in constitutional parameters.
Responding to a question on drone attacks, he said “our policy is very clear as these attacks are impediment to our constructive work and it is creating legal, social and moral issues”
He said that democracy is getting strengthened in Pakistan where all institutions including Judiciary, Parliament and media are freely operating in their own spheres.
He said that US administration is also confident about Pakistani democracy and doesn’t see any threat to it.
Responding to a question on proscription of Geo for last four months he said Geo is his favorite channel and he does not know of any ban on Geo.
He said media is free in Pakistan, which is essential for a democratic society. He said there are plenty of scholarships available to Pakistani students.
Responding to a question he said that if US is a friend of Pakistan then why India has opened forty to fifty Consulate offices in Afghanistan.
He said we have reservation on Afghanistan territory used by neighboring country to weaken Pakistan.
The ambassador said that we have made US administration aware of our reservations that Afghan territories are getting used by unfriendly neighbor to destabilize Pakistan.
Ambassador Jilani said that Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif made a visit to India and meet his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi during the tour.
“It was decided that both sides will have meetings at foreign secretaries’ level but Indians backed out at the last minute.
He said that Pakistan has gone through a positive change which has not only improved our internal affairs and now all political parties are willing to have good relations with India.
However, we don’t see similar sentiments on the other side. He said time is changing and issues can only be settled through dialogues. He said that Kashmir , Siachen and water issues can be resolved at the negotiating table.
He said that the positive indications coming from Pakistan is being reciprocated by Indian side.
Responding to a question on Pakistani community in US, he said that Pakistani community is quite active.
He said that the purpose of his trip to Houston is to invite Pakistani and American investors in energy sector in Pakistan.
Houston Consular General Afzal Mahmood, Houston Karachi sister city President Saeed Sheikh, South Asia Democracy Watch director Amir Makhani were also present on this occasion
