Britain rejects plea to consider Pakistan as emerging market

Britain outrightly rejected Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari’s plea to re-look at his country from the perspective of a “promising emerging market full of opportunities”, Asian Lite International reported.

He appealed to the world on the same day when Britain announced sanctions against a Muslim cleric Maulana Abdul Haq alias Mian Mithu for forced conversion of non-Muslims in Pakistan’s Sindh province.

Bilawal raised the pitch for his country in Singapore, seeking improved economic ties. Analysts noted that Bhutto-Zardari’s plea came during his meetings with Singapore President Halimah Yacob.

At the same time, when Bilawal was asking the world to relook at his country, the United Kingdom sanctioned a Muslim cleric, Maulana Abdul Haq alias Mian Mithu for forced conversion of non-Muslims in Pakistan’s Sindh province.

A Pakistan People’s Party lawmaker between 2008 and 2013, Mithu was expelled by the party after he became controversial over the forced conversion and marriage of Rinkle Kumari, a girl from the minority Hindu community, reported Asian Lite International.

Earlier, UK Foreign Secretary James Cleverly announced a new list of sanctions including Mian Abdul Haq of the Bharchundi Sharif shrine in Ghotki, Sindh, to mark International Anti-Corruption Day and Human Rights Day.

Haq, who is a cleric and politician, is a locally influential figure in the Sindh region of Pakistan and has been criticized over the years for the forced conversion of minorities, mostly Hindus, in the province.