Shehbaz Sharif rejects Imran Khan's statement regarding Kashmir referendum

By Muhammad JuniadPublished On 06 Jan 2023

Lahore: Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) President Shehbaz Sharif has rejected Prime Minister Imran Khan's statement of holding a referendum on Kashmir to decide whether the Kashmiris wanted to live as an independent nation or stay with Pakistan.

In a statement, the Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly severely criticized PM and said that he is deviating from the country’s constitutional position by proposing a referendum.

"People of this country reject anything other than Pakistan's historic position on Kashmir issue and United Nations (UN) Security Council resolutions. Imran Khan’s statement has proved the concerns that have already come before the nation with the Indian measures of August 05, 2019,” he said.

The PML-N leader further stated that the Kashmir issue will be resolved by holding an independent plebiscite under the auspices of UN and this is the position of the people of Pakistan and Kashmir.

“Proposing a solution to Kashmiris without their consent is equal to helping India,” he added.

Prime Minister Imran Khan, while addressing an election rally in Tarar Khal, had said that his government will hold a referendum in which they could choose to join Pakistan or become an independent state.