India seeks shifting of Commonwealth meet from Islamabad

Maintaining its strong stance, India has asked the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association to shift the venue of the CPA’s annual conference from Islamabad, saying Pakistan has “forfeit” its right to host the meet by not inviting the Jammu & Kashmir branch which was in violation of the association’s constitution.

In a letter to CPA chairperson, Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan also called for immediate resolution matter and ensure invitation to the J&K Speaker, saying otherwise India will boycott the annual conference in Islamabad.

Referring to a meeting of the speakers of all states on Friday, she said it was resolved to call upon the chairperson and CPA Executive Committee “to use her good offices to immediately resolve the matter” arising out of the “unilateral” decision of Pakistan failing which CPA India region including the Union and State branches will boycott the event.

The letter said J&K Branch of CPA was in good financial standing with CPA and fulfils all conditions of its membership.

Conveying outcome of the meeting which was held last week, the Lok Sabha Speaker said the members felt Pakistan “forfeit” its right to host the 61st Conference for not inviting Jammu and Kashmir CPA branch in violation of Article 8 of the CPA constitution and that the venue of the conference be shifted to another country.

“I trust that as chairperson of the Executive Committee, you would pursue the matter and ensure that the century old traditions of the Commonwealth are upheld,” Mahajan said in the letter written on Saturday.

“The host Pakistan CPA branch has taken the unilateral decision not to extend invitation to Jammu and Kashmir CPA branch.

“This is not only in violation of the provisions of CPA Constitution, it is also against the principle that CPA is a membership organisation which has constitutionally been bound for over a century to invite all its member branches to the CPA annual conference so long as a branch is in good financial standing with the association,” she said in the letter.

Last Friday, India had decided to boycott the Commonwealth Parliamentary Union conference in Islamabad from September 30 to October 8 in protest against Pakistan not inviting the Speaker of Jammu and Kashmir Assembly. Invitations for the conference have been sent to all the other Assembly Speakers in India.

Meanwhile, refusing to budge from its stand, Pakistan has said come what may it will not invite the Speaker of the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly to the Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference and if India boycotts the meeting it is “their choice”.

Pakistan will not invite the speaker of the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly to the CPC. The assembly of Kashmir is not legitimate so we will not accept it, National Assembly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq said.

“If India does not attend the conference, because of the Kashmir issue, it is their choice. We cannot budge from our stand,” he said.