RECORDER REPORT

ISLAMABAD: Deputy Chairman Senate Saleem Mandviwalla Thursday laughed off his differences with Chairman Senate Sadiq Sanjrani over a recent controversy in which the latter had plainly warned him not to invite any foreign delegate without his prior permission.

Sanjrani was elected chairman Senate this year in March after Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) backed him in a bid to bar Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) from occupying the top slot of the chairman Senate.

But Mandviwalla, who comes from the PPP, had to face the wrath of Sanjrani after he started extending invitations to different countries to visit the country, forcing the chairman Senate to write a strongly worded letter to him that ‘deputy chairman must not extend invitation to any foreign delegation.’

“I’ve no difference with chairman Senate at all,” he told reporters.

However, in an unprecedented move Mandviwalla briefed the reporters about his upcoming visit to Russia to participate in a seminar on ‘importance of parliament in modern world.’

He said that delegates from all over the country are going to participate in the seminar where he would raise the lingering dispute of Kashmir between Pakistan and India, adding the use of military might against innocent Kashmiris will be highlighted to further expose India.

He said that the delegation will also highlight Pakistan’s contribution in war against terrorism and its impact on Pakistan’s economy, adding no country in world has contributed to root out the menace of terrorism like Pakistan did.

He said that Pakistan wants to further strengthen its ties with Russia in areas beneficial for the both countries, adding Pakistan places its relations with Russia at high esteem and desires to further expand these ties to other areas for the mutual benefit of people of the two sides.

He also emphasised the need for increased parliamentary linkages as both the sides can explore new vistas of bilateral cooperation through such high-level interactions. He also appreciated Russian participation in IDEAS 2018 that was held in Karachi.

He said that the business community of the two countries needs to be brought closer for investment and steps are needed to be taken to create conducive environment for mutual benefit.