By Asghar Ali Mubarak
ISLAMABAD: President Dr Arif Alvi on Monday urged the international community to take notice of the grave human rights violations being committed by the Indian Security Forces against the people of Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK).
He said that India had unleashed a reign of terror against the innocent people of IIJOK and had subjected them to the worst forms of state terrorism for decades. The President was talking to Pakistan’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Ambassador Munir Akram, who called on him here at the Aiwan-e-Sadr.
He highlighted that the real face of India needed to be exposed at all international fora, which had been involved in the extra-judicial killings, torture and incarceration of innocent Muslims of IIOJK and other minority groups. The President said that it was the responsibility of the international community to stop India from committing gross human rights violations and implement UN Security Council Resolutions on Kashmir.
He reiterated that Pakistan would continue to support the Kashmiri people in their just struggle for their right to self-determination. The President deplored the fact that India was persecuting minority groups, particularly Muslims and Christians, adding that India’s inhuman treatment of minorities and its belligerent posture posed threat to regional peace and stability.
He termed the 17th extraordinary session of the OIC Council of Foreign Ministers, hosted by Pakistan, as highly successful that attracted the world’s attention to the grave humanitarian and economic situation of Afghanistan. The President highlighted that the OIC-CFM session reflected Pakistan’s commitment to a stable and prosperous Afghanistan. He expressed satisfaction that the OIC-CFM session generated international support to help address the economic and humanitarian challenges being faced by the people of Afghanistan.
Meanwhile, President Dr Arif Alvi Monday while terming the country’s progress linked with education, called for society and Ulema’s role to promote girls’ education through awareness as well as providing them a secure environment. The president, addressing the launching ceremony of “Ulema- Ambassadors of Girls Education Campaign” here said the Ulema had never resisted the girls’ education as Islam was always its strong proponent.
He said the dropout rate of children in Pakistan was high which should be addressed by the government. He said in Pakistan, 32% of primary students were out of schools comparing 21% boys, 60% girls above primary level were out of school comparing 50% boys while only 13% of girls reached class 9.
He said in case of an insecure atmosphere, the parents would not even send their boys to schools, what to talk of the girls. There could also be some opposition to co-education due to cultural traditions which should be resolved through the provision of separate facilities, he added. The president said with the increased awareness, the mindset of giving more importance to boys’ education would also subside gradually.
Contrary to the notion, he said the Ulema also never opposed family planning. However, having their influence and outreach to the masses, the Ulema should highlight the importance of girls’ education, health issues like diabetes and obesity. He said mosques had been and should remain the anchors of the Islamic society. He said the prayer leaders could also be sensitized on certain issues like the killing of Sri Lankan national Sialkot to raise their voice against extremist attitudes.
The president also lauded the idea of using the infrastructure of mosques without seminaries for school education in Punjab and KP where the prayer leaders were also getting stipends. He said besides faith, education was also equally important for the Muslims to excel in the world otherwise they would lag behind in the development.
