Islamabad: The Foreign Minister Jalil Abbas Jilani said an Extra-Ordinary Emergency Meeting of the Executive Committee of the OIC is being held in Jeddah on Wednesday to discuss the situation in Palestine. He said will represent Pakistan at the forum.
This was stated by Foreign Minister , while briefing media in Islamabad on Sunday.
Talking about the evolving situation in Gaza, the Foreign Minister said Israel has committed an aggression and conducted airstrikes on the civilian population, resulting in the death of innocent civilians, including women and children.
He said Pakistan condemns the siege of Gaza. He said people have no water, food and health facility, which creates a humanitarian crisis.
He said Israel is committing a genocide against the poor people of Palestine.
Jalil Abbas Jilani demanded of Israel to respect the international law and UN Security Council resolutions on Palestine, recognizing Palestinians’ right to self-determination.
He said it is also a result of seven decades of illegal occupation of the Palestinian territories by Israel that must be vacated and UN resolutions must be respected.
He said any attempt to equate Israel’s aggression to that of Palestinians’ struggle is unacceptable to Pakistan.
Maintaining Pakistan’s stance, the Foreign Minister said Palestinians’ right to self-determination must be respected and Palestine should be given a status of separate and independent state, accepted by not only Israel but also the international community with pre-1967 borders with Quds Al-Sharif as its capital.
Answering a question, the Foreign Minister said Pakistan is in touch with the relevant quarters, including the United Nations and other aid agencies to provide humanitarian assistance to the besieged people of Gaza.
Replying to another question about New Delhi’s delaying tactics in issuing visas to Pakistani spectators, who are wishing to watch the cricket World Cup matches being held in India, Jalil Abbas Jilani said India has violated the international norms by not letting Pakistani cricket lovers and media persons to enjoy and cover the sport live from the ground.
He said the Foreign Office and the Pakistan Cricket Board have raised this matter with the relevant Indian authorities, through diplomatic channels. He said it is a matter of grave concern for Pakistan and Islamabad will continue to press this issue
