Iran Cautions against Foreign Meddling in Pakistan
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Saeed Khatibzadeh said Tehran is closely monitoring the political developments in neighboring Pakistan, stressing that Pakistanis should decide their own fate freely and without foreign interference.
“We are closely monitoring the developments in Pakistan,” the Iranian spokesman said at a press conference in Tehran on Monday, noting that the developments in the “friendly and brotherly” neighbor are seriously important to Iran.
His comments came after a decision by Pakistan’s parliamentary speaker to block the no-confidence vote in parliament against Prime Minister Imran Khan, and the subsequent dissolution of the National Assembly, triggered a constitutional crisis as the opposition plans to appeal against the moves at the Supreme Court.
The Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson said such developments in the parliamentary system of Pakistan are natural.
“We must all make sure that the people of Pakistan will settle their country’s fate without foreign interference and meddling,” Khatibzadeh stressed.
“We have very good relations with the Pakistani government. Within this framework, we have tried to maintain our relations,” he added.
The opposition in Pakistan, which needed 172 votes to unseat Khan and his Pakistan Tahreek-e-Insaf-(PTI)-led government, now claims the support of 195 members of parliament.
Khan claims moves to unseat him are a conspiracy between the opposition and foreign powers.
Pakistani President Arif Alvi dissolved the parliament on Sunday on the advice of Khan who also called for snap elections.
But Pakistan’s Supreme Court will hear the opposition’s appeal of the moves on Monday.
