OIC's special meeting should be held on Kashmir issue: FM Qureshi

Qureshi said imposition of citizenship law in India is hampering lives of minorities.

ISLAMABAD (Dunya News) – Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi on Tuesday said that a special meeting of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) should be held on the ongoing situation in Indian Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IOJ&K) as the people of Pakistan have expectations with the organisation.

Addressing a press conference along with the OIC Secretary General s Special Envoy for Jammu and Kashmir Yousef M. Al Dobeay in Islamabad on Tuesday, he said the OIC had adopted a number of resolutions over the Kashmir issue and continuously raising the issue besides Palestine, as both the issues had been of immense significance for the whole Ummah.

He said that OIC Secretary General s Special Envoy for Jammu and Kashmir Yousef M Al Dobeay has been apprised on the current situation in the occupied Kashmir. The minister said the visiting dignitary was also briefed on situation along Line of Control and the targeting of innocent civilians by Indian forces. He said carnage of minorities, especially the Muslims, continues in India. He said Muslims were massacred in Indian capital New Delhi, where police and security forces acted as silent spectators.

The foreign minister said that the imposition of citizenship law in India is hampering the lives of minorities, especially Muslims, adding that the Muslims were massacred in New Delhi. "Indian steps pose a serious threat to peace and security in the region, an example of which was manifested in February last year when both India and Pakistan came to the brink of war," he said.

FM Qureshi said Pakistan is a founding member of OIC and there are many resolutions of the body on Kashmir issue. He said people of Pakistan have large expectations from OIC to play its role in the resolution of Kashmir issue.

Speaking on the occasion, Special Envoy for Jammu and Kashmir Yousef M. Al Dobeay said OIC has always strongly supported the resolution of Kashmir issue. He said the issue of Kashmir is very close to our heart and all members are on same page regarding its resolution.

He said the resolution of both Kashmir and Palestine issues stand at the top of the agenda of OIC, adding that the OIC Contact Group on Kashmir was established in 1994 and since then it has actively raised the issue time and again.

Al Dobeay said a formal session of OIC was convened on Pakistan s request after removal of special status of Occupied Kashmir by India on 5th August last year. He said a detailed report on situation in Occupied Kashmir will be presented to the office of secretary general upon his return.

The OIC and its human rights body, Independent Permanent Human Rights Commission (IPHRC), had issued several statements condemning India’s actions and reiterating their principled position on the Jammu and Kashmir dispute. The OIC Contact Group on Jammu and Kashmir had met twice since 5 August, he added.

He termed his interaction with the foreign minister and other officials very successful.