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MULTAN: Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi has stated that Pakistan hopes United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet to highlight the “facts” in her report regarding rights violations in Indian occupied Kashmir.
“The United Nations will have to play its role in the matter of Kashmir,” said the foreign minister while talking to the media in Multan. He added that he has apprised the UN chief of the situation in Kashmir.
The foreign minister said that he had also written to the UN Security Council president about the human rights violations in Kashmir.
“Human rights in Kashmir are being trodden on,” said Qureshi. He added that he and Minister for Human Rights Dr Shireen Mazari also spoke to the Human Rights Council in Geneva on the issue.
“We hope human rights commissioner Michelle Bachelet in her new report, which we are expecting will come out in 2020, will bring the true facts to the people,” said the minister.
To a question about repatriating stranded Pakistanis, the foreign minister urged the provincial governments to increase their capacity so more flights can take place.
“We are trying to bring them {stranded Pakistanis] back and we brought back thousands and there are thousands more that need to be brought back,” said Qureshi.
The minister clarified that the issue of bringing them back was not a problem at the federal government’s side but it required the provincial governments’ cooperation. He also said that the Centre wants the passengers that return to be self quarantined and said he believes this should be allowed.
Pakistanis working abroad have been severely affected by the coronavirus crisis as many have become unemployed due to the lay offs announced by many businesses, especially in the Middle East.
The government has launched special PIA flights to bring back the Pakistanis stranded abroad since the aviation industry has also been affected due to border closures.
Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi said on Sunday that Prime Minister Imran Khan constituted the National Commission for Minority, giving representation to all religions, media reported. Shah Mehmood Qureshi said in a statement that all religions were given representation in the minority commission which focused to show solidarity with the minority community in the country.
He said that the Pakistani government gave a message to the minorities through constituting the commission that they are not alone. Supreme Court (SC) has also guided the federal government regarding the National Commission for Minorities and Pakistan is proud of each member of the minority community.
“Pakistan gives protection to all religious spots of minorities including the Kartarpur Corridor.”
“A prominent Hindu trader has been appointed as the head of the newly-constituted National Commission for Minorities.”
“I wish that Muslims in India were also satisfied regarding the protection of their religious areas including 400-year-old historical Babri Masjid. The government led by BJP martyred Babri Masjid and hurt emotions of Muslims, whereas, the supreme court of India became a silent spectator.”
The foreign minister criticised that India made tall claims for its ‘independent media’ which always surrendered before RSS. Minorities’ rights are being violated in India which was the prime duty of the Indian government in accordance with its constitution. The Indian government has also failed to defend rights of Bengalis and now voices are being raised in Bengal for the occupation of their areas by India, he added.
“I’d talked to UN secretary-general before Eid and highlighted the discriminatory actions by India in occupied Jammu and Kashmir.”
Shah Mehmood Qureshi said that Pakistan, China, Nepal and Bangladesh were concerned about Modi’s Hindutva policy. He added that all minorities have equivalent rights in Pakistan’s constitution and the government had also welcomed the former Indian premier during the occasion of Kartarpur Corridor’s inauguration.
The foreign minister said, China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) is safe by the grace of Allah Almighty and it will be completed despite opposition by India or any other country.
He said that China had shown severe concerns over the moves of India as it started illegal construction in Ladakh. China had offered to hold dialogues with India which was failed due to the New Delhi government. He added that India had silently fled from the area after facing action from China.
Regarding the pandemic situation, the foreign minister said that COVID-19 affected almost all countries around the world including Pakistan. He said that the government is planning to bring back more overseas Pakistanis and sought assistance from the provincial governments.
“Many overseas Pakistanis were facing difficulties due to expired visas and unemployment. The decision for reopening airports cannot be taken without the support of the provincial governments. If the provinces support the decision, many Pakistanis could be brought back to the country.”
