Ishaq Dar meets OIC secy gen, urges joint action against Islamophobia
OIC Secretary General reaffirmed the OIC’s support for the Kashmiri people and their legitimate right to self-determination, as reflected in various OIC resolutions.
BANJUL: Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar met on Thursday with the Secretary General of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, Hissein Brahim Taha, on the sidelines of the 15th Islamic Summit, held in Banjul, The Gambia.
The discussions focused on tackling extremism and terrorism, highlighting the need for a unified approach.
The Deputy PM shared Pakistan’s grave concerns about rising Islamophobia, as manifested by an increasing number of incidents of discrimination, violence, and incitement against Muslims around the world.
He stressed the imperative for joint action to counter Islamophobia, particularly in the context of Israel’s aggression against Palestine, which has resulted in a rise in Islamophobic and xenophobic acts around the world.
He also briefed the OIC Secretary General on the situation in Indian Illegally-Occupied Jammu and Kashmir and the use of excessive force by Indian security forces there.
Noting the historic role of the OIC in supporting the just struggle of the Kashmiri people, he appreciated the role played by the OIC Contact Group on Kashmir, the Special Envoy on Kashmir, and the OIC’s regular monitoring of the human rights situation in IIOJK.
On the occasion, the OIC Secretary General reaffirmed the OIC’s support for the Kashmiri people and their legitimate right to self-determination, as reflected in various OIC resolutions.
The foreign minister expressed deep concern about the ongoing genocide in Gaza and the dire humanitarian situation. He also expressed alarm at the escalation of the conflict in the region.
Senator Dar reiterated Pakistan’s principled position, calling for the complete withdrawal of Israel from all occupied Arab territories, including Jerusalem, the restitution of the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people, including their right of return to Palestine, and the establishment of an independent homeland for Palestinians along the pre-June 1967 borders with Al-Quds Al-Sharif as its capital.
The deputy prime minister also applauded the OIC’s efforts and initiatives for peace in the Middle East and expressed the full support of Pakistan for these initiatives.
Fazl seeks overhaul of entire ‘system’
Slamming the results of the February 8 general elections, Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman Thursday alleged “manipulation of votes” and “sell” of all legislature “from the Sindh Assembly to the President’s House” took place in the 2024 nationwide polls.
“We are loyal to Pakistan, but there is no value of national loyalty here,” Maulana Fazl said while addressing a power show in Karachi Thursday night. “Issue is not limited to elections, you (state institutions) will have to change themselves in entirety.”
Pointing towards alleged manipulation of poll results, he criticised: “Democracy has been eliminated from the country.”
“Those people sitting at the helm have made Pakistan a slave of America,” he said, adding, “Pakistan is self-sufficient of competent people and natural resources.”
The senior politician, who headed a multi-party alliance — Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) — which successfully ousted the former prime minister Imran Khan’s government in 2022, said that they were fighting for sovereignty of the country.
He said a “drama” was staged in the name of general elections in the 2024.
Fazl said his political rivals thought that the JUI-F would not be able to protest against election rigging “but our movement is not only for one day or one month”.
He also expressed concerns over the increase in terror incidents, saying that Pakistan can only prosper when rulers come to power through “people’s struggle”. He added that his party’s struggle was not aimed at getting positions in the assemblies or ministries but “we are ready to fight for your rights as a soldier”.
The politico expressed hopes that Pakistan would become a prosperous and developed country when the JUI-F comes into power via a public struggle.
He said Israel announced the opening of an embassy in Jerusalem.
He said this is bullying and they stand for the liberation of Palestine with the Palestinean people shoulder-by-shoulder.
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He said JUI’s stand will be for the people then it will be said that you will not come to power.
He said they are being punished that he went to Afghanistan to resolve the issues.
“Apparently, the nation was told that we are conducting an operation against robbers. But instead, they make them sit inside (parliament).
He said armed people get 10 percent from the tender from their province (KPK) while they are portraying that they are fighting against terrorists.
