ISLAMABAD: Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi on Friday announced hewill not attend a meeting of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC)being hosted by the United Arab Emirates on March 1-2.
Qureshi made the announcement in a joint session of the Parliament, whichcontinued for a second day today in the wake of Indian aggression againstPakistan.
Reiterating his protest against the OIC’s decision to invite IndianMinister of External Affairs Sushma Swaraj to attend the meeting of theCouncil of Foreign Ministers in Abu Dhabi, Qureshi said he will not attendthe session due to the inter-governmental organisation’s failure to rescindthe invitation to his Indian counterpart.
Mentioning that the “UAE has always helped Pakistan in difficult times”,Qureshi noted with regret that despite Pakistan’s protest, the OIC’sinvitation to Swaraj was not rescinded.
Read Top Stories
“There was no consultation over OIC invitation to Indian foreignminister. India is neither a member nor an observer of the OIC,” Qureshipointed out, adding that he sent two letters – the latest only yesterday -to the UAE calling upon the body to withdraw its invitation to the Indianforeign minister.
Qureshi informed the Parliament that he requested the OIC to either rescindthe invitation or postpone the session in view of the prevailing situation,neither of which was done.
