Pakistan Iran Parliamentary Friendship Group holds first meeting.

ISLAMABAD -- Convener Senator Lieutenant General (retd) Abdul Qayyum has observed that Pakistan has always reaffirmed that we will never be a party to Iran's economic strangulation and any other measures to curb its growth. Iran was the first country to recognise Pakistan after it gained independence in 1947. Subsequently Pakistan was the first country to recognise the new governance structure in Iran after the Iranian Revolution. He termed the relationship between Iran and Pakistan as one of hearts.

The meeting was held with the Convener Senator Abdul Qayyum in the chair and was attended among others by Senators Walid Iqbal, Syed Mohammad Shah Ali Jamot, Iranian Ambassador Mehdi Honardoost, Dr. Mohammad Aejaz from the Foreign Office and Mrs. Sommayah from the Iranian Embassy.

The Ambassador hoped that the mutual cooperation will see new heights between the executive, Parliament as well as the people. He remarked that the people and the commonalities are the backbone of this relationship. The Ambassador apprised the friendship group about the expectations of the Iranian side from the bilateral relationship. He said that many of the hurdles and problems come for Iran because of the fact that Iran supports adamantly the Palestinian cause. He said that Iran is not scared of sanctions and is one of the best in its defence.

Hard times pass away but bitter memories never leave. He said that Pakistan and Iran need to activate all of their potentials for the betterment of bilateral relationship including banking transactions. He said that all sanctions on Iran originate from United States and...