ISLAMABAD – Expressing Pakistan’s full solidarity with the Palestinianpeople in the face of unbridled tyranny, Prime Minister Shahid KhaqanAbbasi on Friday called upon the OIC member countries to unify their ranksand evolve an effective response strategy.
“Pakistan joins the OIC countries in conveying our strong condemnation ofthe massacre and maiming of innocent Palestinians by Israeli forces earlierthis week,” the prime minister said while addressing the 7th ExtraordinarySummit of the Organization of Islamic Countries (OIC) on the question ofPalestine hosted by Turkey in Istanbul.
Prime Minister Abbasi appreciated President Recep Tayyip Erdogan forconvening this timely and important Summit, which he said was importantboth for its key messages and a response strategy in the face of injustice,illegality and impunity against our Palestinian brothers and sisters.“Today we in Pakistan commemorated a day of solidarity with the Palestinianpeople and special prayers were held in our Mosques,” he said, adding,these killings represent yet another brazen chapter in the seventy years ofinjustice to the people of Palestine.
The prime minister said this year also marked the 70th anniversary ofdeliberate Israeli defiance of international law and norms.“It is deeply regrettable that the US did not heed to universal calls forrescinding its decisions about recognizing Jerusalem as the so-calledcapital of Israel, and relocation of its Embassy to the Holy City,” hesaid, adding, “Pakistan stands in full solidarity with the Palestinianpeople in the face of unbridled tyranny.”
The prime minister said, “It is therefore in the fitness of things that ourconference resolutely condemns and rejects unilateral decisions andrecurrent violations of international legality. Concurrently, it isheartening to note the strong message of solidarity and support by the OICfor their Palestinian brothers and sisters in these turbulent times.”“We also see this summit as an occasion for introspection and charting apath for justice and equity for the people of Palestine. We must unify ourranks and evolve an effective response strategy,” he added.
The prime minister further said, “We are at an important juncture inhistory. It is no longer a question of choice but of necessity – to riseabove our differences, demonstrate solidarity and support for the people ofPalestine and above all ensure that international law is upheld withoutexception.”Prime Minister Abbasi on this occasion also recalled two questions that hehad placed before the previous extraordinary summit in Istanbul lastDecember.
“Firstly, how have we come to this pass? The fact is that we have not givenconcrete shape to our expressions of solidarity and unity. This has beentrue not only for Palestine but for other common causes also.
“The world is witness to a similar pattern of tragedy, both in scope andscale. For seven decades, the people of Jammu and Kashmir have beensubjected to illegal Indian occupation and blatant violation of theirfundamental rights including their right to self-determination.”
He said, “As in the case of Palestine, the UN Security Council resolutionscontinue to be defied and the just struggle for freedom convenientlybranded as terrorism.”
“Without rectifying our political, economic, communication andtechnological weaknesses we will not be able to mount a sustained defenseof our brethren whether in Palestine or Kashmir,” he added.The prime minister said, “The second key question is what should be ourresponse? Should we accept defiance of international law and the reign ofstate terrorism as fait accompli? It is clear that only a demonstration ofrage will not be sufficient to alter the status quo.”“Our response should therefore be multi-pronged and well-considered.”
“On the one hand, it is essential to reaffirm and renew our full solidarityand unity among and between our countries and people. We must also setaside our political differences. Even more important is to faithfullyimplement the OIC plans of action that are already in place in diverseareas,” he added.“Only by taking these actions can we resist external pressures, reverse thelosses and take our destinies in our own hands,” he maintained.
The prime minister said, “Our response strategy must also include allpossible options. On the diplomatic front, we must continue to demand thatthe UN Security Council fulfill its key responsibility for implementationof its existing resolutions.”“The OIC must demand accountability for defiance of its decisions. We mustunderscore that the Council’s credibility will be questioned if it does notdeliver on its duty to ensure implementation of its resolutions. We mustreject double standards in the enforcement of Council resolutions,” headded.The Prime Minister said if the UN Security Council was unable or unwillingto act, they should mobilize support in the UN General Assembly forrejection of revisionist decisions and ensuring accountability of violatorsof international law.
“We must also follow up on OIC decisions for economic and other appropriateactions to change the behavior of the occupying forces. We should alsoconsider the possibility of seeking the ICJ’s advisory opinion on theillegality of recent actions,” he added.
“We need to reach out to other states and groupings to sustain support forthe just cause of the Palestinians, put an end to continued killings andstate terrorism and build an independent and contiguous State of Palestine,on the basis of internationally agreed parameters, the pre-1967 borders,and with Al-Quds Al-Sharif as its capital,” the prime minister concluded. -APP