Islamabad, July 16: Pakistan today welcomed the formation of a governing council in Iraq as the "first step" towards returning governance and restoring sovereignty to the people of the country. “It has always been Pakistan's principled position, within and outside the UN Security Council, that governance be returned and sovereignty be restored to the people of Iraq as soon as possible," foreign office spokesman said. The spokesman hoped the council would initiate contacts with the diplomatic missions in Baghdad, where Pakistan is represented, according to official APP news agency. Bureau Report