Sign in

Instability in Pakistan bad for region, says Farooq Abdullah

Former chief minister and NC president Farooq Abdullah said instability in the neighbourhood is bad for the region and entire sub-continent

Updated on: May 10, 2023, 23:49:20 IST
By , Srinagar
Share
Share via
  • facebook
  • twitter
  • linkedin
  • whatsapp
Copy link
  • copy link

Leaders of two mainstream regional parties of Jammu & Kashmir on Wednesday raised questions on Pakistan democracy after the arrest of former Prime Minister Imran Khan, who heads Pakistan’s Tahreek-e-Insaf party.

National Conference president Farooq Abdullah (HT file photo)
National Conference president Farooq Abdullah (HT file photo)

Former chief minister and NC president Farooq Abdullah said instability in the neighbourhood is bad for the region and entire sub-continent.

“It is not for us to tell Pakistan how to manage its democracy and its politics, but we hope that cooler heads prevail, the rule of law is established and democratic institutions are strengthened,” he said.

Abdullah told reporters in Srinagar that Pakistan has a history of assassinations and said unstable Pakistan is dangerous for India. “First Pakistan Prime Minister Liaquat Ali Khan was assassinated. There is a constant history of assassinations. PM Zulfikar Ali Bhatto was hanged. His daughter Benazir Bhutto was also assassinated. Unstable Pakistan is dangerous for us,” he said adding that peaceful Pakistan is very important for the entire region.

Peoples Democratic Party president and former chief minister Mehbooba Mufti said, “In Pakistan, democracy lies in tatters. Perhaps the only silver lining is an independent judiciary and a fierce media holding the establishment accountable like the world’s largest democracies.”

Apni Party president Altaf Bukhari when asked about the situation in Pakistan said he won’t speak on Pakistan. “I am only concerned about my own country,” he said.