ISLAMABAD: The 5th Conference of the SAARC Speakers and Parliamentarians Association will be held next year in Islamabad. This was announced by the Speaker National Assembly Dr. Fehmida Miraza while addressing the inaugural Ceremony of the Fifth Conference of the SAARC Speakers and Parliamentarians Association in New Delhi on Saturday. The decision was taken unanimously at the meeting of the Council of SAARC Speakers before the Inaugural Ceremony.

Fehmida Mirza said that SAARC Parliamentarians should endeavour to preserve the freedom for which founding the leaders of South Asia, the Quaid-e-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah, Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, Dr. Ambhedkar and A.K. Fazalul Haq had worked hard. Standing in the shadows of these great leaders, I find reason to compliment the entire SAARC fraternity, she said. The Speaker said it was remarkable that for the first time in thousand years of our collective history that all 8 nations have functioning democratic systems.

She said the revival of the Association at present is vital for strengthening democratic parliamentary traditions in South Asia. She said that this goal was also envisioned by our leaders when they met for the SAARC Silver Jubilee in Thimphu last year. The Speaker said that the Governments have committed themselves to creating a Conclave of SAARC Parliamentarians and they have recognised the need to follow democratic traditions, collectively represented by the Parliamentarians of South Asia. Full story