Says OIC’s summit theme in ‘Partnership for Unity, Justice and Development
Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi on Tuesday said the opposition did not have enough numbers to succeed in its no-confidence move against the prime minister, and questioned why the opposition alliance had announced holding a rally in Islamabad if their numbers were sufficient.
While addressing a news conference here Qureshi said it was beyond his comprehension why the opposition had announced a rally in the capital. Hours after the announcement by the ruling PTI to arrange a gathering of “one million people” at D-Chowk on March 27 on the eve of voting on the crucial no-confidence resolution against Prime Minister Imran Khan, the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) on Monday gave a call to the public and workers of its component parties to begin a long march towards Islamabad on March 23 to stage a sit-in which could continue till the completion of the voting process in the National Assembly.
Moreover Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi has said theme of the 48th session of OIC Council of Foreign Ministers being held on 22nd of this month in Islamabad will be ‘Partnership for Unity, Justice and Development.’ He said our objective is to promote unity amongst the Muslim states, build bridges and construct partnership through this session of the OIC. Shah Mahmood Qureshi said Pakistan has always played a very important role in the OIC including the framing of new charter of the organization.
He pointed out that Pakistan has excellent relations with all the OIC member countries and it is ready to play the bridge building role. He said forty eight foreign ministers of the Muslim countries have confirmed their participation in the meeting and this number may further increase.
The Foreign Minister said the upcoming session of the OIC is taking place at a very critical juncture. The people of Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir and Palestine still await justice and the fulfillment of promise made to them for right to self-determination whilst the Muslim communities across the world, especially in India face insecurity because of rising trend of hate speech and Islamophobia.
He said it will be our desire and effort that the reports prepared by the Special Envoy of OIC and Assistant Secretary General for Humanitarian affairs are presented in the OIC session in order to apprise the Ummah about the latest situation in the Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir. Shah Mahmood Qureshi said a Kashmiri delegation will also attend the OIC meeting to inform the Muslim Ummah about the ground realities in the illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir.
It will also be our effort that the OIC also adopts a resolution on Jammu and Kashmir. Similarly, Shah Mahmood Qureshi said it will be our effort that the OIC meeting comes up with a consensus response on Islamophobia and Hijab. He said Pakistan also wants the OIC member countries to strengthen cooperation to deal with the impact of COVID-19. The Foreign Minister said Pakistan wants the OIC meeting to prepare a concrete action plan to achieve our collective aspirations.