We have failed Kashmiris and Palestinians, PM Imran says at OIC moot
Two-day OIC moot kicks off in Islamabad; Qureshi says unity within 'Muslim ummah' central pillar of foreign policy
pm imran delivers keynote address at oic moot in islamabad on march 22 2022 photo app
PM Imran delivers keynote address at OIC moot in Islamabad on March 22, 2022. PHOTO: APP
ISLAMABAD:
Prime Minister Imran Khan on Tuesday delivered a keynote address at the 48th Council of Foreign Ministers of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) in Islamabad and regretted that Muslims have failed the Kashmiris and Palestinians.
“We are 1.5 billion people and yet our voice to stop this blatant injustice is insignificant… We are simply talking about human rights…”
He said they were denied their right to a plebiscite even though international law was on their side and added that Kashmir’s special status was taken away by India illegally in Aug 2019.
Imran said he was not saying that Muslim countries alter their foreign policies but unless “we have a united front [on core issues] these abuses will keep on happening”.
“Like Palestine, where daylight robbery is happening,” he said, adding that social media exposed the crimes committed by Israelis in Palestine.
India is changing the demography of Kashmir by bringing settlers from outside, he said, adding that this was a war crime but nobody censured India on it.
The prime minister further said that the world was heading in the wrong direction, adding that there was a chance of the world being divided into blocks. “Unless we take a united stand, we would be [going] nowhere.”
Speaking about Afghanistan, Imran said it was extremely important to stabilise Afghanistan. He said due to sanctions and non-recognition, Afghanistan may fall into another humanitarian crisis and the only way to stop terrorism emanating from Afghan soil is to support a stable Afghan government.
Denying the existence of a “radical” version of Islam, Imran said there was only one kind of Islam that was preached by Prophet Mohammad (PBUH). The premier said the narrative of ‘Islamic terrorism’ went on unchecked after the 9/11 attacks.
“We, the Muslim countries, did not do anything to stop this narrative,” he said, adding that the heads of Muslim states should have taken a stand on this issue but they “instead [a] lot of them kept saying things like we are moderate”.
This meant that they were acknowledging that there was a radical version of Islam. “There is only one Islam that is of Prophet Mohammad (PBUH),” he said, adding that there were fanatics in every human community but only Islam was singled out by the use of such terms.
He said Islam was vilified yet there was no “coherent response” by the Muslim world. PM Imran said after the resolution on Islamophobia, he hoped that a narrative would be put forward that why blasphemy hurt Muslims so much.
According to the premier, the Objectives Resolutions by the “founding fathers” in 1951 envisaged Pakistan as an Islamic welfare state based on the model of Madina. He said he came in politics for the very same goal.
“In the history of mankind, there was never a more just and humane state than the state of Madina,” he said, adding that unfortunately, Muslims didn’t know about it.
PM Imran said Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) came to “unite mankind not divide mankind”. The charter of Madina was signed with Jews, Christians, and Pagans, he said, adding that everyone became part of the community. “It was a revolution of ideas; he created a new system,” Imran said referring to the holy prophet (PBUH).
Speaking about the rule of law, he said the poor countries have one thing in common, they cannot catch white-collar criminals. "The developing world is poor because they cannot put powerful criminals in jail."
Citing a UN report, he said $1.6 trillion are siphoned off from poor countries by powerful criminals.
‘Protect Islamic values’
According to the premier, one of the ideas behind the OIC moot was to protect Islamic values. “I believe Islamic values never have been under so much threat as they are right now.”
"After becoming the premier, I asked the police chief about the crime chart and I was told sex crime, including child abuse, was the fastest growing crime in Pakistan. Upon investigation, it was discovered that mobile phones – the sort of pornographic material available to children on phones – were causing havoc in society."
It is very important to combat this, he said, adding that there was a rise in divorces. The increase in vulgarity damaged the family system, Imran said, adding that the culture that was coming through social media needs plans to combat it.
Unified stance on core issues
About Ukraine, the premier suggested that the OIC, during its moot, think ‘how it can bring about a ceasefire’. “I am going to meet Wang Yi…and discuss maybe OIC along with China step in and stop this conflict.
If this conflict continued it would have grave consequences for the world, he said, adding that oil, gas and wheat prices have shot up significantly.
“This is only going to get worse if the conflict continued,” he added. “How we can all as a block, the OIC and China, influence the events in Ukraine and stop this and have a ceasefire and resolve this conflict,” he added.
Imran maintained that the world was moving in a direction that was "worrisome for all of us – block politics, cold war". He said Muslims states “lacked self-belief” and looked towards others for justice. The premier urged that “we get united” and take a unified stand on core issues
“We get united and on certain core issues, take a stand and let’s not be dragged into blocks and conflicts – we should stay as a block and show our power in bringing about peace rather than becoming part of some conflict.”
FM Qureshi at OIC
Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi on Tuesday said the promotion of solidarity and unity within the 'Muslim Ummah' was one of the central pillars of Pakistan's foreign policy.
During his speech, FM Qureshi expressed “profound gratitude to the OIC General Secretariat for facilitating this important meeting”.
He added, “Promoting solidarity and cooperation within the Muslim Ummah is one of the central pillars of Pakistan's foreign policy. As Chair of the OIC-CFM during 2022-23, Pakistan's overarching goal shall be to solidify this bridging role further.”
Speaking about OIC’s role in Afghanistan, the minister said in the previous moot, the OIC had agreed to establish the OIC Humanitarian Trust Fund, appointed a Special Envoy of the OIC Secretary General, launched an Afghanistan Food Security Programme.
Welcoming the recent designation of March 15 as the "International Day to Combat Islamophobia" by the UN General Assembly, Qureshi said this was made possible owing to the unity of the OIC members.
FM Qureshi added that there was a need for unity by jointly addressing the challenges and conflicts faced by the Muslim world.
The Muslims of Palestine and Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) are still reeling under abominable subjugation, he said, calling for the resolution of these conflicts.
"It is incumbent to resolve these challenges by partnering with the international community as well. Beyond adopting resolutions, we must take concrete and tangible steps towards permanent solutions."
The foreign minister said there was a need to support the efforts of the Afghan authorities to eliminate Daesh (IS-K) and other terror outfits. “We must guard against spoilers that wish to continue destabilizing Afghanistan and using its territory to promote terrorism,” he added.
About climate change, Qureshi said that the OIC must call for additional commitments by the international community to achieve the agreed mitigation targets, support for adaptation, and loss and damage in developing countries due to climate change.
OIC moot kicks off
The inaugural session of the two-day meeting of the Council of the Foreign Ministers of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) at Parliament House is being attended by Prime Minister Imran Khan along with envoys from across the Muslim world.
Hassoumi Massoudou, foreign minister of the Republic of Niger and also the Chair of the 47th session of the OIC Council of Foreign Ministers, focused on the objectives of OIC and stressed the need for collaborated efforts to address the common challenges.
He handed over the chair of the 48th session of the OIC-CFM to Pakistan represented by Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi.
Earlier, Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi received the visiting foreign ministers on their arrival at the Parliament House.
PM Imran's keynote
PM Imran in his keynote address will highlight Pakistan’s role and contribution towards OIC and deliberate on the challenges faced by the Muslim world.
Read OIC session dragged into no-trust mudslinging
Foreign ministers of Saudi Arabia Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al-Saud, Secretary-General OIC Hissein Brahim Taha, President Islamic Development Bank Dr Muhammad Suleiman Al-Jasser, Chinese State Councilor, and Foreign Minister Wangi Yi will address the session.
The video message of Secretary-General of the United Nations Antonio Guterres will be shown on the occasion. The theme of the session is ‘Building Partnerships for Unity, Justice, and Development,’ which will be held at the Parliament House.
More than 100 resolutions will be considered during the two-day session.
The session coincides with the 75th-anniversary celebrations of Pakistan’s independence. On March 23, the foreign ministers will visit the Pakistan Day parade venue and witness the professional capability of Pakistan’s armed forces and the traditional floats of all the provinces, reflecting the national unity.
Later in the day, Foreign Minister Qureshi along with OIC Secretary General Hissein Brahim Taha will hold a joint press stakeout following the conclusion of the session.
Afghanistan, Kashmir on agenda
The summit will also discuss developments in Afghanistan and its humanitarian consequences for the Afghan people and the situation in Jammu and Kashmir, it added.
Many African issues will also be on the summit’s agenda, including the situation in Mali, the Sahel region, and Lake Chad, and the situation in Central Africa and the Republic of Guinea. The OIC foreign ministers will also discuss developments in Yemen, Libya, Sudan, Somalia, Syria, and other regions during the summit.
OIC moots in Pakistan
Pakistan has a proud history of hosting major OIC events including Summits and Council of Foreign Minister (CFM) meetings. The country hosted the 2nd OIC Summit in Lahore, in February 1974. An Extraordinary OIC Summit was held in Islamabad in 1997 on the occasion of Pakistan’s Golden Jubilee.
Pakistan also hosted the OIC CFMs on four occasions – the 2nd session in December 1970, the 11th session in May 1980, the 21st session in April 1993, and the 34th session in May 2007.
Furthermore, the 1st and the 17th extraordinary sessions of the OIC foreign ministers were held in Islamabad in January 1980 and December 2021, respectively.
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