APA opposes double standards: Jamali
By Adnan Rafique

ISLAMABAD—Acting Chairman Senate Mr. Jan Muhammad Khan Jamali said here Tuesday that the Asian Parliamentary Assembly would emerge as a focal point for Parliamentary dialogue geared towards building peace, enhancing co-operation and friendships among peoples in this part of the world, and finding peaceful solutions to the conflicts as it opposed the double standards and all types of discrimination.
He made these observations on his return from Tehran after leading the Pakistan Senate delegation at the Asian Parliamentary Assembly (APA). Other Members of the Pakistan delegation included Senators Rehmatullah Kakar and Abdul Khaliq Pirzada.
Mr. Jamali said that the transformation of the Association of Asian Parliaments for Peace into the Asian Parliamentary Assembly proved to be a major leap towards greater integration and cooperation in Asia. He was of the view that the forum of Asian Parliamentary Assembly was playing a positive role in promoting international peace and respect for the rule of law across the world and striving for provision of justice and a better standard of life for all.
Mr. Jamali expressed the hope that the Member States would devise a comprehensive strategy and framework for enhancing cooperation and pooling resources to address common problems and finding mutually beneficial and acceptable solutions. He said that the APA could be further strengthened by constituting committees and subcommittees mandated to work on common objectives like encouraging and promoting human rights, countering terrorism and recognizing the rights and freedom of nations.