ISLAMABAD: As the Senate on Wednesday blasted Israel for its crimes against humanity and its worst state terrorism against Palestinian people, a PML-N Senator called for Pakistan pulling out of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) and taking the initiative of convening a huddle of Islamic countries to hammer out the future course of action to end the oppression of Muslims around the world.

Taking part in the discussion on the genocide of Palestinian people in Palestine by Israel during an emergency session of the Senate, former Khyber Pakhtunkhwa chief minister and PML-N leader Pir Sabir Shah suggested that a collective decision should be taken for severing diplomatic and trade relations with the countries supporting Israel.

He praised late Zulfikar Ali Bhutto for uniting the Muslim Ummah by convening the Islamic Summit of Muslim leaders and initiating the country’s nuclear programme. “We await a Salahuddin Ayubi. We need a Zulfikar Ali Bhutto,” he remarked.

He said the Islamic Ummah needs to come out of the deep slumber, warning that today the people of Palestine were facing the orgy of destruction, and tomorrow it could be any other Muslim country.

Senate unanimously demands immediate ceasefire, end to Israeli blockade of Gaza

A unanimous resolution was passed by the house which said: “Since the Holocaust of the 2nd World War, no state has committed such mass killings, carnage and war crimes with such an unprecedented barbarity and brutality.”

The resolution expressed complete solidarity with and support for the oppressed people of Palestine while denouncing the double standards and hypocrisy of those countries which are supporting Israel. The resolution described such countries as partners in the crimes since they are opposing an immediate ceasefire in the besieged Gaza.

The resolution reiterated Pakist­an’s commitment to the just cause of Palestine saying this policy was first enunciated by the Quaid-i-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah himself.

“There can, therefore, be no wavering from Pakistan’s principled policy based on supporting the inalienable right of self-determination of the people of Palestine and their right to an independent State of Palestine with Jerusalem as its capital,” the resolution said.

The resolution, tabled by the Leader of the House in Senate, demanded an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, an end to the Israel blockade of Gaza and full access of all international humanitarian organisations to Gaza so that relief supplies, medicines, food and water can be supplied to the people of Gaza.

Foreign Minister Jalil Abbas Jilani, while winding up the discussion on the Palestine issue in Senate, demanded immediate withdrawal of Israeli forces from the Palestinian territory and revival of basic human rights there.

He stressed the need to recognise Palestine as an independent state with Al Quds Al Sharif as its capital, adding that this demand was among the major points of Pakistan’s foreign policy on the issue of Palestine.

“The situation in Gaza is worrisome not only for Pakistan but for the whole word,” Mr Jilani said. He said that Pakistan would continue to stand with the people of Palestine.

The foreign minister informed the house that Pakistan has played a proactive role since recent tensions started in Gaza.

He further said that Pakistan, its government and the parliament have given a clear message to the world on the issue while expressing solidarity with the people of Palestine.

Talking about the government’s efforts to highlight the issue, Mr Jilani said that he, as the foreign minister, talked to foreign ministers of all important countries in OIC, including Saudi Arabia, UAE, Qatar and Turkiye to inform them about Pakistan’s position over the issue.

Published in Dawn, November 2nd, 2023