By Ajmal Khan Yousafzai
ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Imran Khan on Monday stressed that the United Nations must play its rightful role in addressing the grave situation in the Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) and ensuring that Kashmiris exercise their right to self-determination, promised to them in the relevant UN Security Council resolutions.
He was talking to President-elect of the 75th Session of the United Nations General Assembly, Volkan Bozkir, who called on him here. The Prime Minister extended warm felicitations to Mr Bozkir on his election as the President of the historic 75th Session of the UN General Assembly.
During the meeting, he apprised the PGA-elect of the serious situation in the IIOJK, an issue that was on the agenda of the UN Security Council for over seven decades.The Prime Minister highlighted the dire human rights and humanitarian situation in IIOJK since 5 August 2019, as well as the ongoing gross and systematic violations of human rights of the Kashmiri people and the attempts to change the demographic structure of the occupied territory.
He apprised the PGA-elect of his Government’s initiatives to mitigate and suppress the socio-economic impacts of COVID-19 pandemic, focused on saving lives, securing livelihoods, and stimulating the economy.
He informed that his Government deployed a $8 billion stimulus package for the poor and the needy. This was the highest social security coverage by any Government in the history of Pakistan.The Prime Minister further highlighted his call for ‘Global Initiative on Debt Relief’ and stressed the need to provide greater fiscal space to the developing countries to overcome deleterious socio-economic impacts of coronavirus pandemic. He also highlighted the high importance he attached to addressing Climate Change, countering Islamophobia, and combating illicit financial flows from developing countries. The Prime Minister expressed the hope that the 75th Session of the UNGA would accord priority to these issues, which affected billions around the world.
Meanwhile, Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi Monday said Pakistan expected from United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) to play its effective role in the peaceful resolution of Jammu and Kashmir issue in light of the UN resolutions. In a meeting with UN General Assembly President-elect Volkan Bozkir, currently visiting Pakistan, the Foreign Minister apprised him about the ongoing human rights’ violations in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) in the wake of India’s unilateral step of changing the valley’s constitutional status.
Qureshi highlighted that extrajudicial killings of Kashmiris by Indian occupying forces, indiscriminate firing on unarmed civilians and violence had become a norm in IIOJK. He said Kashmir issue was an internationally recognized dispute, also endorsed by the UN Secretary General in his August 8, 2019 statement.
During the meeting, issues related to the 75th session of the UN General Assembly including agenda of the meeting were discussed.
The foreign minister congratulated Volkan Bozkir on his election as President for the 75th session of UNGA.
He termed the 75th session of UNGA of special significance as the world braved challenges of coronavirus pandemic and economic crisis. The foreign minister also apprised the Volkan Bozkir of the proposed loan facility for developing countries by Prime Minister Imran Khan to address the implications of pandemic and to revive weaker economies.
The two leaders also discussed ongoing peace and stability efforts in the region, including the Afghan peace process.Foreign Secretary Sohail Mahmood, Director General UN and senior Foreign Ministry officials attended the meeting.
Moreover, Prime Minister Imran Khan on Monday held a telephonic conversation with President of Maldives Ibrahim Mohamed Solih and exchanged views in detail on the challenges posed by COVID-19.
He commended the efforts made by Maldives to contain the spread of the pandemic and efforts to revive the economy, including the tourism sector, a press release issued by the PM Media Office here said. The Prime Minister briefed the Maldivian President about the latest situation in Pakistan and the steps taken by the Government to contain COVID-19, with focus on saving lives, securing livelihoods, and stimulating the economy. He added that the ‘smart lockdown’ strategy had worked successfully and that major sectors of the economy were being gradually opened up.
