Comment on foreign policy should keep constitution and national interest in view: Azam Nazeer Tarar

ISLAMABAD, Mar 10 (APP): Federal Minister for Law and Justice Azam Nazeer Tarar on Tuesday said Pakistan is a responsible nuclear state and therefore the public and media should keep the constitution and national interest in mind while expressing opinions on international affairs, particularly foreign policy.

Addressing a press conference at the PTV Headquarters on Tuesday, the law minister said Pakistan had always adopted a balanced and responsible stance during recent tensions in the region. He said whenever an incident occurred at the global or regional level, Pakistan responded in accordance with diplomatic norms while keeping its long-standing relations with friendly countries in view.

Tarar said under Article 19 of the Constitution of Pakistan every citizen enjoyed freedom of expression, but this freedom was subject to reasonable restrictions. He explained that these restrictions were related to matters such as the glory of Islam, the security and defence of Pakistan, relations with friendly countries, public order, morality and contempt of court.

He noted that in recent days certain comments circulating on social and electronic media could create a misleading impression at the diplomatic level. He said that no individual or group has the right to make statements regarding Pakistan’s foreign policy that might harm relations with friendly countries.

The law minister said Pakistan has decades-long friendly relations with Gulf and other brotherly Islamic countries. Therefore, he suggested that Pakistan should side with one country against another is neither permitted by the Constitution nor required by the national interest.

He said the government and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs were fulfilling their responsibilities to reduce tensions in the region and to promote peace. According to the minister, the prime minister was also in constant contact with regional leaders in an effort to resolve disputes through peaceful means.

Responding to a question, Tarar urged the public, journalists and social media users to observe constitutional and legal limits while expressing opinions and avoid statements that could potentially affect Pakistan’s relations with its friendly countries.