Iran envoy condemns US resolution on Pakistan polls

‘Form of extortion’
ISLAMABAD
Iran on Sunday criticised the resolution passed by the United States Congress, seeking an investigation of claims of “interference or irregularities” in February 8 elections.
“We condemn controversial US resolution on Pakistan elections,” said Iran’s Ambassador to Pakistan Dr Reza Amiri Moghadam.
The US House of Representatives, earlier this week, in an overwhelming majority, voted to demand a “full and independent investigation of claims of interference or irregularities” in the polls.
The resolution HR 901 was passed by a massive 368 against seven votes on Tuesday, which makes 85% of the total American lawmakers in the legislature.
Through the resolution, the US lawmakers had emphasised the need for the Pakistani public’s participation in the country’s democratic process months after its general polls were contested as “rigged” and its outcome termed “delayed” by political parties now seated on the opposition benches in the legislature.
Following this, the National Assembly on Friday passed a resolution to condemn the US Congress resolution and termed it “contrary to facts” and “interference” in its internal affairs.
The resolution was tabled by Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) lawmaker Shaista Pervaiz Malik, and passed by a majority in the National Assembly amid a noisy protest of the opposition benchers.
Expressing his discontent, Moghadam said that the US resolution is an “open interference in the domestic affairs of an independent member of the United Nations”. The ambassador called it a form of extortion under the guise of supporting democracy.
Speaking about the deadly situation in Gaza, the envoy also said that Washington stops a ceasefire resolution through its power to veto.
“The US supports the genocide of the people of Gaza by providing lethal weapons to the Zionist regime,” said the ambassador.
Iran taking various measures to welcome pilgrims
As the holy day of mourning for Hazrat Imam Hussain (AS) approaching, people are preparing to visit holy places in Mashhad and Iraq.
According to a press statement of Iranian Embassy in Islamabad, the central organization of Arbaeen in Iran is taking various measures to welcome pilgrims from other countries, especially the friend and brother country of Pakistan.
As in previous years, the Central Organization of Iranian Ziarat Arbaeen located in Sistan and Balochistan province is providing necessary facilities to welcome pilgrims at the shared borders of Iran and Pakistan.
According to the tradition of the past years, the pilgrimage of Imam Reza (a.s.) will be organized in the month of Muharram.
Those who wish to visit the holy shrines during the first ten days of the month of Muharram (June 27 to July 8, 2024) can travel to Iraq via Iran with a double visa.
Individuals who intend to attend Arbaeen from July 9 to August 22, 2024, can travel to Iraq via Iran via an Iranian double visa with an Iraqi visa.
In view of the situation of the government of the friend and brother country Iraq, which may lead to congestion at the common border of the large number of pilgrims, the central organization of the Iranian Ziyarat Arbaeen requests the Pakistani pilgrims to first apply for an Iraqi visa and then apply for an Iranian visa at one of the five Iranian missions located in Islamabad, Peshawar, Lahore, Karachi and Quetta.
Visa aspirants can apply for and obtain an Iranian visa from any of the five missions of the Islamic Republic of Iran in Pakistan as per the regulations.
All the heads of groups are requested to take the convoy by buses from Pakistan to Iran and Iraq for the convenience of pilgrims.
The central organization of Iranian Ziarat Arbaeen is trying to provide necessary facilities for the passage of buses of pilgrims going from Iran to the Iraqi border.