Islamabad: The 61st Commonwealth Parliamentary Union (CPU) will be held in Islamabad on October 1 as per schedule despite refusal by India to participate, officials here said.
India refused to attend the moot as Pakistan denied to extend invitation for the conference to Indian Administrated Kashmir’s Assembly’s Speaker.
The decision for not inviting Kashmir Assembly Speaker was taken by Speaker National Assembly Sardaf Ayaz Sadiq who is the current President of Commonwealth Parliamentary Association. He is of the view that Kashmir Assembly is a disputed entity. Meanwhile, Australia and New Zealand have also refused to attend the CPU by expressing solidarity with the position that India has taken.
The two countries are asking Pakistan to extend invitation to all 31 Indian members of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association including the Kashmir assembly.
Pakistan has already extended invitation to 30 Indian assemblies including the parliament.
Officials said Pakistan has told India that Speaker of the Kashmir assembly will not be invited.
