Pak mulling action against India in UN over 'interference'

Pakistan is mulling dragging India to the UN for alleged interference in its affairs after a news report claimed India has been helping the Muttahida Qaumi Movement with funds and training to create unrest in Karachi.

Pakistan's ambassador to the United Nations Dr Maleeha Lodhi is in Islamabad for consultations with the government contemplating action against India in the UN for alleged interference, officials said today.

The issue came to light after a recent BBC report alleged that India provided funding for MQM party which lords over financial capital Karachi.

India has rejected the claims as "completely baseless".

MQM has also denied receiving any funds from India with its founder and chief Altaf Hussain vehemently rejecting the claim that his party had any connection with India's external intelligence agency RAW.

Pakistan has launched a formal probe and has also written to British government for details about the BBC report and copies of the statement of two MQM leaders who reportedly told Metropolitan Police in London about Indian funding.

Officials said Pakistan will get the strongest proof against India if the BBC report was proved after investigations and it has a plan to inform the world about it.

The government will consult Lodhi over the issue and the ambassador would brief about the mood at the UN and if any effort by Pakistan to indict India would get international support, officials said.

Pakistan TV channels reported yesterday that Pakistan has decided to haul up India to the UN for creating instability in the country. But officials said that it was too early to say this as a lot depends on the probe of the BBC report.

The government would also consult her about Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's planned visit in September to address the UN General Assembly (UNGA) annual session.

Sharif will attend a summit on the post-2015 development agenda and co-chair a summit on peacekeeping with US President Barack Obama.

He would also attend a summit on South-South cooperation which Chinese President Xi Jinping will host.