By Shakeel Ahmed
ISLAMABAD: President Dr Arif Alvi on Monday called upon the world to take notice of human rights’ violations in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIoJK), suffering worst lockdown and human rights abuses at the hands of Indian security forces.
In a meeting with President of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) Gabriela Cuevas Barron here at the Aiwan-e-Sadr, the President said the people of IIoJK were facing extreme misery as India unleashed a reign of terror, terming it a clear violation of United Nations resolutions. President Alvi expressed the hope that IPU would play its role in protecting the rights of the people of IIoJK.He also apprised the visiting dignitary about the smart-lockdown policy of Pakistan government that successfully overcame the challenge of COVID-19 pandemic.
Gabriela Cuevas Barron, a Mexican politician for last 20 years, said her country wanted to work with Pakistan for promoting closer ties in areas of mutual interest. The President expressed the hope that the visit of the President IPU would strengthen parliamentary relations between the parliament of Pakistan and IPU’s member parliaments. Senate Chairman Muhammad Sadiq Sanjrani and Senator Mirza Muhammad Afridi attended the meeting.
Meanwhile, Senate Chairman Muhammad Sadiq Sanjrani has said that parliaments and parliamentarians have a crucial role in the promotion of peace, democracy and development and in this regard Inter Parliamentary Union (IPU) has made significant contribution through increased institutional linkages and cooperation. Senate chairman expressed these in a meeting with President of the IPU Gabriela Cuevas Barron here at the Parliament House on Monday.
The Senate chairman observed that IPU has grown into a vibrant global entity helping parliaments and representatives to become more effective by sharing best practices and identifying avenues for action. During the meeting Senate chairman expressed his satisfaction with the excellent collaboration between IPU and Parliament of Pakistan. He said that both these institutions have historically cherished the ideas of democracy, peace and development. Senate chairman underlined the need for institutional linkages between Senate and IPU Secretariat.
He observed that Pakistan desires strong linkages with IPU as parliamentary diplomacy plays significant role in strengthening relations between nations and people. He said that Pakistan was keen to strengthening bilateral and multilateral ties through dialogue and mutual respect. “In line with IPU objective of peace building and protection of human rights, Pakistan has always highlighted Kashmir cause and the atrocities of Indian govt in occupied valley from time to time one very international fora including IPU”, Senate chairman said.
