UPDATED: 5:52am – The UK, in a message on the occasion of Pakistan’s independence day, has said founder Muhammad Ali Jinnah’s vision of a progressive and inclusive nation is still worth cherishing.
Days after describing Pakistan’s human rights situation as continuing to be of “significant concern”, London on Monday told Islamabad on the country’s independence day that founder Muhammad Ali Jinnah’s vision of a progressive nation was worth cherishing.
“Muhammad Jinnah’s founding vision of a progressive, inclusive Pakistan is still something worth cherishing and celebrating,” foreign secretary Boris Johnson said in a message, but added the country should be “rightly proud of its culture and history” over the past 70 years.
Pakistan and India were created on 14 and 15 August, 1947, at the end of centuries of British rule.
The Foreign Office said in its annual report on human rights in July that Pakistan was among 30 countries categorised as “Human Rights Priority Countries” since there continued to be “serious violations of women’s and children’s rights” throughout 2016.
“The country’s minority communities, including religious minorities – in particular Ahmadiyya, Christian and Shia communities – suffered widespread persecution…Modern slavery continued to be a major problem. The operating space for international and domestic NGOs remained restricted,” it added.
In his message wishing the people of Pakistan “Jashan-e-Azaadi Mubarak”, Johnson noted that the UK and Pakistan enjoyed close friendship, also reflected in the 1.2 million British people of Pakistani-origin.
“Whether on the cricket field, at Pakistani celebrations in the UK or though our strong education cooperation and support, the links between our two countries keep getting stronger,” he added.
In 2017, the UK is celebrating links with Pakistan with a yearlong programme of cultural events, exhibitions and visits.
People of Pakistani-origin include several MPs in the House of Commons and cricketers and sportsmen such as all-rounder Moeen Ali and boxer Amir Khan. The community has an influential vote in several constituencies.
-HT
