Date : 16/10/2011
ISLAMABAD, Oct 16 (KUNA) -- A day after the opposition criticized the
government for delay in according recognition to the National Transition
Council government (NTC) of Libya, the Prime Minister on Sunday announced his
government's decision to recognize Libya's new government.
Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani talking to newsmen in eastern Lahore
city said that he "took the decision to accord recognition four days ago".
However, he added, assessment of the changing situation in Libya took time
as it was Pakistan's consistent policy to avoid interference in the internal
affairs of a sovereign state.
The announcement came as Pakistan Muslim League-N (PML-N), the main
opposition party in the National Assembly, asked the government to recognize
the new Libyan setup. "I regret to point out that the government of Pakistan
has been extremely slow in taking a clear-cut direction on this critical
subject", said PML-N parliamentary leader Ishaq Dar in his letter to the Prime
Minister.
He said the prime minister would have also noted the reported statement of
new Libyan set-up that they would consider replacing the 55,000 Pakistanis
working in Libya at present with Indians and other nationalities, in case
Pakistan does not recognize the new political set-up in Libya. (end)
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