-Speaks at Virtual Meeting with NSW Minister for Skills and Tertiary Education
-Holds talks with National Director of Amnesty International
CANBERRA: The High Commissioner for Pakistan H.E. Babar Amin held a meeting with Mr. Geoff Lee, NSW Minister for Skills and Tertiary Education.
According to a presser released on Monday, the High Commissioner briefed the Minister about cooperation between Pakistan and Australia in Education sector.A large part of Pakistani students as well as the community were located in New South Wales that were positively contributing to the development and people to people contacts between both the countries.
There was immense potential of growth in that sector, he further informed the Minister about his engagement with various Australian Universities, especially in NSW.
The High Commissioner also raised the issue of Pakistani students enrolled in different Universities and who were unable to join their universities in Australia due to the Covid-19 related travel restrictions.While referring to the NSW’s plan for bringing students into Australia, the High Commissioner requested the Minister to give due priority to the Pakistani students. He also offered to bring a chartered flight into NSW if the government allowed while making special quarantine arrangements.
The Minister said that bringing back all international students in a phased manner, was priority of NSW government. The pilot plan would bring only 250 students per fortnight. The numbers will have to be subsequently increased. He assured to raise the issue of Pakistani students in Vice-Chancellors Committee.
Mr. Lee also offered to raise the issue within the NSW Task Force for students’ return to create a transit hub in the Middle East as well to facilitate Pakistani and other South Asian students. He added that under current plan, NSW universities were tasked with arranging flights for students. However, NSW government will consider Pakistani proposal for a chartered flight in coordination with the universities.
The High Commissioner expressed his readiness in offering any assistance for bringing the students into Australia. He also briefed the Minister regarding improved Covid-19 situation in Pakistan, which was conducive for students’ return.
Meanwhile, HC Babar Amin held a virtual meeting with National Director Samantha Klintworthand Strategic Campaigner on South Asia,KyinzomDhongdue of Amnesty International on 5 July 2021.
The High Commissioner thanked Amnesty International for their support for various human rights causes around the world. He gave an overview of the situation in the Indian illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) since India’s illegal and unilateral actions of 5 August 2019.The High Commissioner informed that Indian actions to change the demographic structure of IIOJK was against the UNSC resolutions, 4th Geneva Convention and international law. He
highlighted the grave human rights abuses being carried out by Indian Security Forces, including extra judicial killings, use of pellet guns and arbitrary detention of Kashmiri leaders and journalists. The High Commissioner stated that the draconian Indian laws such as Public Safety Act (PSA), Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) and Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA) allowed the Indian Security Forces to act with complete impunity.
He further informed about various reports on the human rights situation in IIOJK, including the recent report of UN Secretary General on ‘Children and Armed Conflict’ in which he called on India to protect the children of IIOJK and end the use of pellet guns against children. He also drew attention toward 13000 Kashmiri youth abducted from their homes since 5 August 2019 by Indian Occupation Forces, whose fate is still shrouded with uncertainty.
Ms Klintworth thanked the High Commissioner for briefing and informed that Amnesty International was involved in advocacy of human rights issues and had also highlighted the situation in IIOJK in its Annual Report-2021. Briefing on the situation in Afghanistan in response to a query from the Amnesty, the High Commissioner reiterated that Pakistan supported an Afghan owned and Afghan led peace process.
He informed that Pakistan was hosting 3 million refugees from Afghanistan and wanted their dignified return to Afghanistan. He stated that Pakistan had not favorites and its was up to the Afghan leadership to seize the historic opportunity for an all-inclusive peaceful settlement.–PR
