Chairman Senate Muhammad Sadiq Sanjrani on Wednesday urged all member countries of Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) to withdraw the invitation to the Indian Foreign Minister as guest of honour for the 46th Session of Council of Foreign Ministers to be held in Abu Dhabi from Mach 1-2.
He said that the invitation has raised genuine apprehensions and critical voices among the people of Pakistan and their elected representatives. Chairman Senate has conveyed this through a formal letter individually addressed to Speakers and Presiding Officers of the Parliaments of OIC. Chairman Senate mentioned with satisfaction that brotherly Islamic countries and OIC have raised serious concerns on human rights situation in Indian Occupied Kashmir (IOK). He said that Islamic brotherhood entails feeling the pain of sufferings of Muslims across the world, beyond any geographical boundaries. The plight of Muslim brothers of IOK cannot escape our attention and consideration, he said.
“You would share the concern on grave human rights violation and state terrorism in IOK at the hands of Indian security forces for well over 70 years now”. He said that thousands of innocent Kashmiris including elderly, women and children, have been killed while a countless youth had been abducted. Many civilians have been incapacitated by brutal use of force like pallet guns. He stated that India continues its occupation of the disputed territory by denying the Kashmiris their right to self-determination under the UNSC resolutions.
He reiterated that Pakistan would continue to provide diplomatic, moral and political support to Kashmiris in their just struggle for freedom. He said that the people, government and Parliament of Pakistan highly appreciated the historic and continuing support of OIC for the people of IOK. He expressed the hope that OIC members would use their influence in withdrawal of the invitation extended to the Indian Foreign Minister.
Published in Daily Times, February 28th 2019.
