LAHORE: Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) chief Tahirul Qadri has announced holding protest processions in 100 cities of the country against the persecution of Rohingya Muslims in Myanmar.

If the United Nations (UN) failed to protect Rohingya Muslims, the international community would be entitled to intervene directly and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan had already fired the warning shot, said Qadri while addressing a hurriedly called press conference here on Tuesday.

He said he had written a letter to UN Secretary General António Guterres to remind him of the international political commitment called ‘responsibility to protect’ commonly known as R2P.

“The R2P is a global commitment which binds all member states of the UN to prevent genocide, war crimes, ethnic cleansing and crimes against humanity. The Burmese government has explicitly failed to protect its population.”

Mr Qadri demanded the UN immediately form an international force and intervene to stop killings of Rohingya Muslims. He asked the Islamic states to start passing resolutions against the Myanmar government’s inaction and massacre of the Muslims there.

“These Burmese Muslims have been living there for the last 500 years but had regularly been forced out of their homes. Since 1948, more than two million Muslims have been thrown out of their homes and territories. The latest exodus now tops a figure of 90,000.”

The PAT chief termed the persecution of Muslims in Myanmar state terrorism. He demanded the government of Pakistan to adopt an effective policy in this regard.

PERVAIZ: PML-Q leaderPervaiz Elahi also condemned massacre of Rohingya Muslims in Myanmar.

“The Pakistani rulers should stop talking and immediately take up the matter with the UN and OIC,” he said.

Talking to party leaders and workers at his residence here on Tuesday, Mr Elahi said the international community should call an emergency session of the UN Security Council and take effective steps to stop this barbarism.

ARTISTS: Writers, intellectuals and showbiz personalities have condemned the genocide of Rohingya Muslims urging Myanmar authorities to immediately stop the persecution.

Playwright Asghar Nadeem Syed told Dawn on Tuesday regretted Bangladesh’s role, saying it was the prime responsibility of Dhaka to accommodate the displaced Rohingyas.

“I felt great when I heard that the Maldives had suspended diplomatic relations with Burma,” he added.

The Pakistani government should also take a clear and bold stance on the issue. He said the Nobel Prize conferred on Aung San Suu Kyi should immediately be taken back.

To veteran artist and former National College of Arts professor Dr Ajaz Anwar, what’s happening in Myanmar was a gruesome crime against humanity. The matter must be raised on every forum, he said, regretting the role of Organisation of Islamic Cooperation and suggesting economic boycott of Myanmar.

Renowned actor Abid Ali was of the view that Muslim countries must come forward to help the persecuted Rohingyas.

Singer Faakhir Mehmood said: “My heart weeps when I see the brutalities committed against Rohingya Muslims, but we can’t do anything.”

He said there were artists who did not comment on atrocities committed against Kashmiris in India-held Kashmir fearing their work in India might collapse. Bangladesh had played a very insensitive role, there should be economic sanctions slapped on Myanmar and every effort should be made to force the Burmese authorities to stop committing such brutal acts against Muslims there, he added.

Veteran actor Firdaus Jamal believed it was high time all Muslim countries came forward and did their best to help out the Rohingya Muslims.

Veteran artist Mian Ejazul Hassan said common people should mobilise and motivate the government to take a strong stand against Myanmar.

Published in Dawn, September 6th, 2017