• PM Shehbaz condemns Israel’s atrocities, global inaction on Gaza genocide
• 145 Palestinian students to complete their education in medical institutes for free

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday lamented the international community’s failure to halt the genocide of Palestinians and assured Palestinian students of comprehensive support and quality education in Pakistan, which he described as their “second home”.

Addressing a group of Palestinian students from war-torn Gaza, the prime minister welcomed the batch of “shining and outstanding students” to Pakistan. He stressed that the ongoing massacre of Palestinians was known to the entire world.

“It is heart-wrenching to witness the brutalities and atrocities committed by Israeli occupation forces on a daily basis. They have killed more than 43,000 Palestinians, with thousands more maimed and injured,” he said.

The prime minister said that cities after cities had been demolished, buildings razed to the ground and the international community had yet to act.

“Speeches, resolutions and commitments are still to see the light of the day. Whether these were UN Security Council resolutions or the International Court of Justice’s verdict at The Hague, nothing has helped bring about a ceasefire in Gaza. The world has not seen this kind of carnage in contemporary history,” he added.

PM Shehbaz noted that during his recent participation in the United Nations General Assembly session, they heard speeches after speeches of the world leaders about the plight of the Palestinians and how Israeli forces had been committing genocide in this part of the world. But the blood continued to spill in the streets of Gaza, hospitals were smashed, schools bombed, and the world remains a mere spectator.

The prime minister referred to the international community’s interference in bringing about peace in different parts of the world, including Sudan and Bosnia, but regretted the slow response to those crises.

In Bosnia, for instance, it took the discovery of mass graves and the deaths of countless Muslims before the global community finally realised the magnitude of the tragedy, he said.

The premier regretted the double standards in a world where the powerful and mighty remained untamed. However, he praised the resilience and hope of the Palestinian people, which he said serves as an inspiration to the world.

He also referred to recent footage of two minor Palestinian sisters struggling together and said it had touched every heart except those who matter, can make decisions and save the people of Gaza, Palestine and Lebanon.

The prime minister shared his sincere sympathies with the people of Palestine on behalf of himself, the government and the people of Pakistan.

He said the government of Pakistan would take all possible measures to extend all kinds of facilities to the students during their stay here. The prime minister said that it was not just a gathering of the students but of a family.

He also thanked all the stakeholders under the Gaza Health Outreach programme, including the Alkhidmat Foundation, and announced that more Palestinian students would be welcomed in Pakistan, with directives already issued to relevant authorities. He reassured them that the Pakistani government would cover the costs of their education.

Earlier, PM’s Coordinator on Health Dr Malik Mukhtar Ahmad Bharath informed the audience that 145 students had arrived from Gaza and were enrolled in medical and dental institutions in Islamabad and Lahore. He noted that these students were receiving quality education.

Dr Rizwan Taj, president of the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council, said that after receiving directives from the prime minister in July, arrangements were made in collaboration with all stakeholders to facilitate the education of Palestinian students.

He said 24 students were enrolled in Lahore and the remaining 121 in Islamabad. He stressed that the medical institutions were not charging these students any fees.

Two female students from Gaza expressed gratitude to the Pakistani government for ensuring their education despite the challenges they face back home.

Published in Dawn, October 24th, 2024