The foreign office said on Friday that political leaders meeting foreign envoys was a ‘routine practice’, amid reports that the PTI leaders met with diplomats seeking relief for party chairman Imran Khan.
“The meeting of political leaders for breakfast at the house of Australian High Commissioner was part of a routine,” FO spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch said at a press briefing on Friday.
The statement comes after reports on Pakistani media claimed that PTI leaders Shah Mahmood Qureshi, Barrister Ali Zafar and Rauf Hasan had a meeting with seven foreign envoys including US ambassador Donald Blome, British High Commissioner Jane Marritt, Canadian High Commissioner Leslie Scanlon, Norwegian Ambassador Per Albert Ilsaas, Ambassador and Head of the Delegation of the European Union Ms Dr Riina Kionka, Indonesian Ambassador Adam Mulawarman Tugio at the residence of Australian High Commissioner Neil Hawkins in Diplomatic Enclave on August 18.
The development was not officially confirmed but the PTI leaders had reportedly confirmed the meeting. Reports while citing sources said that Khan’s sentence was discussed between the two sides.
Moreover, the PTI team rendered an explanation pertaining to cipher saga with the US ambassador and discussed with him the political scenario.
Also, read this
Report claims Khan could be exiled as PTI approaches western envoys
US envoy meets ECP chief before key meeting on election date
Pakistan’s paramilitary Rangers arrest six Indian nationals on border
Meanwhile, the foreign office confirmed that US Ambassador met with Chief Election Commissioner Sikander Sultan Raja but advised that concerned parties should be consulted for details of the meeting.
Her statement was in context to the US envoy’s support for fair elections in Pakistan which were conducted in accordance with the law and Constitution.
At the press briefing, Baloch stated that Pakistan has never sought membership in BRICS – a grouping of the world economies of Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa.
She added that the decisions taken during the BRICS summit would be reviewed.
Leaders of the BRICS group have invited Saudi Arabia, Iran, Ethiopia, Egypt, Argentina and the United Arab Emirates to join.
The foreign office spokesperson also expressed serious concerns over the six suspected Indian smugglers arrested by Rangers. She demanded that India should take measures to avoid such incidents.
Baloch also congratulated India on the Chandrayaan-3 spacecraft successfully landing near the Moon’s south pole.
“This is a great scientific achievement. We congratulate scientists who were part of the Chandrayaan,” she said.
