ISLAMABAD, Dec 10: One significant aspect of the just-concluded extraordinary summit of the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) was that it appeared to send out a strong and unified message to the international community on the issue of Iran’s nuclear programme.

Without naming Iran, the entire leadership of the 57-nation body that assembled at Makkah on Dec 7-8 conveyed to the powers that be that the Muslim world would stand firmly by Tehran if any coercive measures were taken against it — military action or sanctions.

This was reflected in the joint communique issued at the end of the two-day summit and formally adopted by the OIC leaders. It advocates ‘joint Islamic action’ in “countering foreign threats that jeopardize the security of any OIC member state in a collective manner”.

In a veiled reference to the threats of economic and military sanctions that Iran faces on the nuclear issue, the heads of the Muslim countries declared their rejection of unilateral sanctions that might be imposed against any member state.

With two Muslim countries currently under foreign occupation, of which one became the target of the United State’s first pre- emptive war, and others (Iran and Syria) threatened with the same fate, this collective call by the OIC becomes both relevant and timely.

The UN nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), has already warned Iran that its case could be referred to the UN Security Council when Tehran could suffer economic and military sanctions.

The US has serious reservations about Iran’s nuclear ambitions and insists that it may be secretly involved in producing nuclear weapons. Iran, however, maintains it is pursuing nuclear technology for peaceful purposes. Its position has been that it is ready to cooperate with the IAEA within the framework of the agency’s regulations, but it would not give up its legitimate right to use nuclear technology for peaceful purposes. Notably, the emphatic endorsement by the OIC leadership of the peaceful uses of nuclear technology by the Muslim world for its energy requirements should help Iran’s case.

The OIC declaration and joint communique are bound to strengthen the hands of the Iranian government against the pressure from the international community, particularly the United States and the European Union, over its nuclear programme. One view is that as a result of the OIC warning, Iran will be better poised to negotiate from a position of strength with the EU-3 and IAEA.

Whether by design or otherwise the fact that Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad walked right besides Saudi King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz on the Tawaf of the Holy Kaaba at the conclusion of the summit may also carry a message. The images of the Tawaf (circumambulation) were telecast live around the globe.

It was read by many observers as a political statement to show solidarity with Iran as it goes through a trying time. Also, it signalled the coming together of different sects for a common cause and bridging of the divisions within the Ummah.

Significantly, it also indicated warming of relations between Saudi Arabia and Iran that have traditionally been marked by tension and suspicion.

PUBLIC circles have expressed concern over the reported move to either disband the Board of Intermediate and Secondary Education (BISE), Bahawalpur or to merge it with the Multan board. The step is being taken to reduce the number of boards in Punjab to justify the functioning of much-publicized Agha Khan Board.

The Bahawalpur board was established in the 70s when it was felt that the candidates of former Bahawalpur division should have their own board. It was set up in a rented building. Later on, its campus comprising hundreds of acres and having buildings constructed with crores of rupees was developed. The board’s jurisdiction stretches from Bahawalpur to Sadiqabad and to Mandi Sadiq Ganj. All government high schools and private schools of three districts — Bahawalpur, Bahawalnagar and Rahim Yar Khan — were affiliated with it thus providing a facility to both regular and private students to appear in secondary and higher secondary examinations.

In the 70s, it was felt that the students of former Bahawalpur division should be given the facility of a separate board, but after the passage of about 35 years this facility was being withdrawn by the government without ascertaining the consequences as its merger will create difficulties for the local candidates and their parents who will have to bear extra financial burden. Local educationists were of the firm opinion that the merger of the Bahawalpur board with that of Multan could not even benefit the government, which would be rather at a loss because the Bahawalpur board was earning a revenue amounting to lakhs of rupees annually by the way of examination fee.

Local students, educationists and lawyers have sounded a note of warning to the government on this issue and threatened to launch a protest movement if the local board was merged with the Multan board. So, the government should examine the issue and drop the merger move at this very initial stage to safeguard the interests of the students of this vast area.