–Abbasi asks Muslim world to set aside political differences and unite to ‘take their destinies in their own hands’
ISTANBUL: Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi has reiterated that Pakistan stands in complete solidarity with the Palestinian people in the face of unbridled tyranny.
He said that Pakistan joins the OIC countries in conveying its strong condemnation of the massacre and maiming of innocent Palestinians by Israeli forces earlier this week.
In a statement at the 7th extraordinary Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Summit on the question of Palestine held here, he said “We are at an important juncture in history. It is no longer a question of choice but of necessity – to rise above our differences, demonstrate solidarity and support for the people of Palestine and above all ensure that international law is upheld without exception.”
The prime minister stressed that the OIC countries’ response should, therefore, be multi-pronged and well-considered.
“It is essential to reaffirm and renew our complete solidarity and unity among and between our countries and peoples. We must also set aside our political differences. Even more important is to faithfully implement the OIC plans of action that are already in place in diverse areas,” he added.
He noted that only by taking these actions, they could resist external pressures, reverse the losses and take their destinies in their own hands.
The prime minister suggested that on the diplomatic front, they must continue to demand that the UN Security Council fulfilled its key responsibility for implementation of its existing resolutions.
PM Abbasi said, “We must reject double standards in the enforcement of council resolutions.”
He observed that if the UN Security Council was unable or unwilling to act, they should mobilize support in the UN General Assembly for rejection of revisionist decisions and ensuring accountability of violators of international law.
He also stressed for follow-up on OIC decisions for economic and other appropriate actions to change the behaviour of the occupying forces.
The prime minister also suggested that they should also consider the possibility of seeking the ICJ’s advisory opinion on the illegality of recent actions.
Besides that, PM Abbasi said that the OIC member countries needed to reach out to other states and groups ‘to sustain support for the just cause of the Palestinians, put an end to continued killings and state terrorism and build an independent and contiguous state of Palestine, on the basis of internationally agreed parameters, the pre-1967 borders, and with Al-Quds Al-Sharif as its capital’.
Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi said that it was deeply regrettable that the US did not heed to universal calls for rescinding its decisions about recognising Jerusalem as the so-called capital of Israel, and relocation of its embassy to the holy city.
“It is, therefore, in the fitness of things that our conference resolutely condemns and rejects unilateral decisions and recurrent violations of international legality. Concurrently, it is heartening to note that the strong message of solidarity and support by the OIC for their Palestinian brothers and sisters in these turbulent times,” he added.