07-29-2010, 01:23 PM
Former Labour Government’s first Muslim Minister Shahid Malik has strongly criticised UK Prime Minister David Cameron for remarks he made against Pakistan while on a business visit to India.“The wrong comments, at the wrong time and definitely in the wrong place,” Malik said in a statement. He added: “Cameron’s comments were not ill-judged but perfectly prepared to maximise praise from India by doing maximum damage to Pakistan.It is sad that Cameron is willing to go to such lengths to ingratiate himself with India, knowing full well the hurt it will cause in Pakistan”.
“He has obviously calculated that it is a price worth paying because of India’s economic might. But Britain is about more than just pound notes it is about principles.
Malik observed that at the very least the UK must remain impartial in South Asia and Cameron’s partisan comments are unwelcome not just by the people of Pakistan but by all those who believe in fairness.
Shahid Malik held Ministerial roles across four government departments between 2007-10 including Interior Minister, Justice Minister, Local Government Minister and International Development Minister in the last Government where he was responsible for securing over 650 million pounds sterling of aid for Pakistan over the next four years.
Taking further umbrage, he said : “Attacking Pakistan is not a price worth paying to get into India’s good books it is a short term diplomatic strategy that will in the long term damage British interests.”
Moreover to blame the Pakistan government for fermenting terrorism is a profound insult to the thousands of Armed forces who have died fighting terrorism or citizens who have fallen prey to terrorist atrocities, the former MP of Dewsbury, north west England, said.
Commending Pakistan’s fight against militancy and extremism, Malik said few countries have sacrificed more than Pakistan in the fight against the evil of terrorism. “We ought to be applauding them for their brave efforts not criticising them for selfish economic gain.”
“He has obviously calculated that it is a price worth paying because of India’s economic might. But Britain is about more than just pound notes it is about principles.
Malik observed that at the very least the UK must remain impartial in South Asia and Cameron’s partisan comments are unwelcome not just by the people of Pakistan but by all those who believe in fairness.
Shahid Malik held Ministerial roles across four government departments between 2007-10 including Interior Minister, Justice Minister, Local Government Minister and International Development Minister in the last Government where he was responsible for securing over 650 million pounds sterling of aid for Pakistan over the next four years.
Taking further umbrage, he said : “Attacking Pakistan is not a price worth paying to get into India’s good books it is a short term diplomatic strategy that will in the long term damage British interests.”
Moreover to blame the Pakistan government for fermenting terrorism is a profound insult to the thousands of Armed forces who have died fighting terrorism or citizens who have fallen prey to terrorist atrocities, the former MP of Dewsbury, north west England, said.
Commending Pakistan’s fight against militancy and extremism, Malik said few countries have sacrificed more than Pakistan in the fight against the evil of terrorism. “We ought to be applauding them for their brave efforts not criticising them for selfish economic gain.”