PM Khan departs for Pakistan after brief layover in Jeddah

PM Khan said struggle and freedom were a constant process and it must continue.

NEW YORK (Dunya News) – Prime Minister Imran Khan, after a brief layover in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, on a Saudi Airlines commercial flight on Sunday departed for Pakistan after successful conclusion of his seven-day hectic United Nations (UN) visit, primarily focused on Kashmir dispute. The prime minister departed from New York on Saturday.

Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi among the Pakistani delegation including Adviser to the PM on Finance Dr Abdul Hafeez Shaikh, Special Assistant to the PM on Overseas Pakistanis Syed Zulfiqar Abbas Bukhari and other senior officials are also accompanying the PM.

Importantly, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) senior leadership has decided to give an outstanding reception to PM Khan upon his arrival at the Islamabad International Airport in Pakistan. A large number of party workers have been directed to ensure effective arrangements for welcoming the premier.

In a statement, PTI Chief Organiser Saifullah Khan Niazi said the capital city would present a historic welcome to the leader for sending a “strong signal to the world.”

Meanwhile, prominent PTI leader Jahangir Khan Tareen asked people to give PM Khan "a hero s welcome" upon his arrival at IIA at 5pm.

In a post shared on Twitter, Tareen stated: "PM IK fought Kashmir s case like a true hero. His unequivocal speech at the UNGA helped transform Pakistan s image globally."

PM IK fought Kashmir s case like a true hero. His unequivocal speech at the UNGA helped transform Pakistan s image globally. Let s celebrate this win by giving him a hero s welcome tomorrow. 5 p.m, at the New Islamabad Airport. Don t forget to be there #WelcomeHomePMIK

— Jahangir Khan Tareen (@JahangirKTareen) September 28, 2019

Earlier, talking to the media at the airport, PM Khan said struggle and freedom were a constant process and “it must continue until the goal is achieved.”

“We will keep building pressure on the international community regarding Kashmir and the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) speech was not the end of the road for Pakistan’s efforts.”

Talking about his speech which is garnering applause from the world over, Khan said that the respect and dignity have always been in Almighty’s hands, “what he wills, transpires.”

“My motive was to highlight the plight of Kashmir on a global forum and deliver the message, the message now stands delivered,” said Khan.

FM Qureshi said the PM would shortly stay in Jeddah during his return to Pakistan. He said the visit of the PM to the UNGA was a successful visit in all aspects. He said the PM met 70 delegations and attended 50 meetings during the visit.

Earlier, the special aircraft presented at the disposal of Prime Minister Imran Khan by Saudi Crown Prince Muhammad Bin Salman for his visit to the 74th session of the UNGA made an emergency landing at the John F Kennedy International Airport after countering a technical fault.

The airplane made a mid-air emergency landing after travelling about five and a half hours to Toronto. According to reports, the minor technical fault was fixed and there was no cause for concern. The technical fault was noticed when the airplane was near Toronto. PM Khan spent a night in a private hotel in New York.

Prior to his departure, PM Khan called on UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres at the UN headquarters in New York.

Commending the Secretary General for his clear articulation of the UN position on Kashmir dispute, the Prime Minister briefed him on the 54-days long siege of over eight million Kashmiris amidst communications blackout. “Such draconian lock-down had no parallel in recent history, and the need for its immediate lifting could not be stressed enough.”

The Prime Minister reiterated Pakistan’s rejection of Indian illegal and unilateral actions of August 5 as these were in clear violation of the UNSC resolutions.

He appreciated the clear stance taken by Mr Guterres on Kashmir dispute for he had expressed serious concerns over human rights abuses in the region and presented his services for facilitating the talks to resolve the issue in a peaceful manner.