Dr Ashraf Choudhary is the first Muslim from Pakistan origin to be elected in NewZealand Parliament.
No Mly Solution To Kashmir Issue, Says New Zealand MP
MUZAFFARABAD, Oct 30: The first Muslim member of the New Zealand parliament, Dr Ashraf Choudhary, on Tuesday expressed his pleasure over the return of democracy and congratulated President Gen Pervez Musharraf for paving the way for it.
The ruling Labour Party’s MP of Pakistani origin observed at a news conference that the establishment of the democratic setup would cast “very positive” impact at the international level because **“many people in the world wanted to talk only with democratic governments.”
“People’s government is liked in the comity of nations and it is good that Pakistan is shortly going to have such a government. I congratulate President Musharraf for paving way for that by taking many steps such as elections,”** said the Sialkot-born Dr Choudhary, who is the first Muslim and South Asian to become a member of the NZ parliament.
Dr Choudhary did his PhD in New Zealand in 1979 and worked as professor of agriculture engineering for 20 years there, during which he invented an award winning direct drilling machine for sowing.
He was elected MP this year in recognition of his work in the ethnic community, which is 15 percent of New Zealand’s population of four million. He is chairperson of government caucus on education in state sector and member of parliamentary select committees on education and science and on primary production.
Dr Choudhary stressed that the Kashmir issue should be resolved through implementation of United Nations resolutions and discussion by India, Pakistan and the Kashmiris.
“There cannot be a military solution to this problem. It is not possible in today’s world. Both India and Pakistan are nuclear armed and they should not go for their use for the sake of their people,” he said. “Our government’s policy,” he continued, **“is that the UN resolutions should be followed and that all the parties concerned should sit together and talk.” **
He said he also belonged to a border area in Sialkot. “We know what happens when a war breaks out because we have been the first to face its impact,” he said.
“I am against war, but as far as struggle is concerned, it may be carried on,” he said apparently in reference to the Kashmiris’ struggle for freedom. “Our government supports those who are oppressed. I will support the just causes whether of the Muslims, Christians or of any other community,” he said and added: “One country has no right to keep another country under its occupation.”
Similar was the policy of his government about Iraq, Dr Choudhary said, quoting the New Zealand prime minister as having said “quite openly” that no country had the right to attack the other unilaterally.
“Whatever may be the action, it should be through the UN. We do not support American position on Iraq,” he said.
The issues, he said, should be settled through the UN or through its resolutions and the territories which had any right must get the same.
He told reporters that the NZ prime minister was planning to visit India and Pakistan next year. **“Before coming here I met the prime minister and suggested that she should visit the countries, particularly after the return of democracy to Pakistan. She has decided … and I hope next year she will undertake that tour.” ** 
Dr Choudhary said he wished that the ties between New Zealand and the South Asian region should strengthen.
Dr Choudhary, who earlier called on AJK Prime Minister Sardar Sikandar Hayat Khan, said he had suggested that delegations should be sent to New Zealand to apprise the opinion-builders there of the situation in Kashmir.
“I don’t think anyone from here has gone there,” he said and added that few people in New Zealand knew what was happening in Kashmir.
He said Pakistan’s high commissioner was based in Australia and he used to visit New Zealand once a year.
AJK Finance and Rehabilitation Minister Shah Ghulam Qadir, Public Accounts Committee Chairman Chaudhry Tariq Farooq and AJK Council member Dr Najeeb Naqi were also present.
