LONDON: Former British Foreign Secretary and contender for the Labour Party leadership David Miliband has said that his party is a true friend of Pakistan and stands shoulder to shoulder in its hour of distress.
Miliband was speaking at Ramazan iftaari and Pakistani Independence Day dinner held at Waltham Forest Council Assembly Hall, north east London, on Tuesday evening.
Referring to the devastating floods that have ravaged Pakistan, Miliband said the country has been widely affected by this natural calamity.
“Our thoughts go out to the affected people...we are Pakistan's friends today...friends of the Pakistani people and we pledge that we will remain friends in future as well,” he said.
He said the people of Pakistan have also suffered from the terrorism and thousands of civilians have been killed as a result of this conflict.
“We do not look both ways to Pakistan, we look one way and we say to Pakistan that we are your friends and stand with you. We want to make sure that Pakistan is part of a stable South Asia. We know that there is no stability in Pakistan when there is instability in Afghanistan. We call on all countries of South Asia to be a part of our efforts to establish peace and stability in that region.”
Miliband, who is favourite to be crowned new Labour leader at the next month's annual party conference, said Pakistan needs friends for its economy, security, trade and its democracy.
He pointed out that Pakistan has been ruled for 31 years out of 63 years of independence by the military and the UK believes that the future of Pakistan lies with the people, for the people and by the people.
“One of my proudest moment as the Foreign Secretary was when I went to Islamabad after February 2008 parliamentary elections and I sat with the representatives of all the political parties.”
He said the struggle of the people of Pakistan for democracy is a struggle for the Great Britain, too, and they will continue to support democracy in that country.
Others who spoke on the occasion included MPs Anas Sarwar, Stella Cracey, Lord Nazir Ahmed, Waltham Forest Mayor Councillor Masood Ahmed, Councillor Akram Afzal and Chris Robins, leader of the council.
They supported the candidacy of David Miliband for the Labour Party leadership and expressed hope that under him the party would rebound and win the next elections due in 2015. They said David was the right man to lead the party.
Lord Ahmed said contrary to the remarks of Prime Minister David Cameron about Pakistan in India, Miliband talked about the issue of Kashmir when in India. He said the remarks of Cameron offended not only Pakistan but the British Pakistani Diaspora as well. He said Pakistan has been fighting the war on terror on behalf of USA, UK and Europe and its sacrifices need to be acknowledged.
Barrister Abid Hussain conducted the proceeding and said the funds raised from the event would go to Pakistan’s flood appeal.
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