UN must act, fulfill its responsibility of upholding peace in Gaza: FO
Repatriation of illegal foreigners to continue without any reconsideration: Mumtaz Zahra
ISLAMABAD -Deep concerns about the dire situation in occupied Palestine and said Israel’s relentless and indiscriminate bombing campaign, the inhumane siege of Gaza, and deliberate strikes against civilian targets including refugee camps, hospitals and apartment buildings had created an unacceptable humanitarian situation. “For the last 3 weeks, the massacre of Palestinians continues unabated, with the death of over 8000 civilians of which 70 percent are women and children. These war crimes are being perpetrated by the Israeli occupation forces with full impunity as the international community continues to repeatedly fail the people of Palestine,” the spokesperson commented.
She also highlighted a resolution adopted by the Senate of Pakistan on Wednesday in which the members strongly condemned Israeli crimes against humanity perpetrated against the people in occupied Gaza. It also expressed full solidarity and support for the Palestinian people. She reiterated Pakistan’s call on the international community to play its part in bringing an end to the atrocities in occupied Palestine.
The UN General Assembly resolution of last week reflects the growing international consensus on the situation of Palestine, she said expressing the hope that the momentum would lead to an early end to the carnage in Gaza. “The UN Security Council must act and fulfill its responsibility of upholding peace. It must call for lifting the siege, protecting civilians, and facilitating humanitarian corridors for provision of uninterrupted relief supplies for the beleaguered people of Gaza.” She told the media that Pakistan had sent humanitarian assistance for the Palestinian people and was currently working to send another consignment of assistance.
“The policy is very clear… Individuals who are illegals, who do not possess legal documents, who have overstayed their visas will be repatriated. So, there is, at this point, no reconsideration of the policy,” Foreign Office spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch said in her weekly press briefing a day after the policy came into effect over the expiry of the October 31 deadline.
She explained that the Illegal Foreigners Repatriation Plan (IFRP) applied to all foreigners residing illegally in Pakistan, irrespective of their nationality and country of origin. However, it was not applicable to individuals enjoying refugee status.
Asked about the number of countries whose nationals were being repatriated, the spokesperson said it could be approximately a dozen, or maybe slightly fewer.
She said the government was in contact with those countries and the lists provided by such countries were under discussion between the two sides. She said the government was also engaged with a number of countries, including the United States, with respect to Afghan individuals who were to be resettled in third countries. “These consultations continue and Pakistan has impressed on these governments to expedite their visas and approval processes so that they can leave for their destinations without further delay.”
When asked about the death sentence awarded to the retired Indian Naval Officers by a court in Qatar, the spokesperson said this testifies the presence of India’s network of espionage which has gone beyond South Asia.
She said this also shows India’s reckless and irresponsible conduct in clear violation of international law and the UN principle of state sovereignty. She said it calls into question India’s reliability as a credible partner.
Referring to the arrest of an Indian naval officer in Balochistan, the spokesperson said Pakistan had remained a target of India’s state-sponsored terrorism, subversion and espionage for a long time.
As regards the situation in Indian illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK), the spokesperson said Indian occupation forces continued to commit human rights violations in the occupied territory.
She said that seventeen Kashmiris were killed and ten others wounded in the month of October. She said the international community must urge India to bring an end to its occupation and implement the UNSC resolutions that recognise the right of self-determination of the people of Kashmir.
She said Pakistan would continue to extend political, diplomatic and moral support to Kashmiris for the just and peaceful settlement of Jammu and Kashmir dispute.