Pakistan terms Israel's remarks on human rights 'politically-motivated'

Minister Sherry Rehman also condemns Israel's comments

ISLAMABAD (Dunya News) - Foreign Office spokesperson Mumtaz Zehra Baloch on Tuesday termed the statement of an Israeli representative regarding Pakistan's human rights record as a "politically-motivated" remark, saying Pakistan could do without Israel's advice on the protection of human rights.

An Israeli representative had issued a harsh statement against Pakistan's human rights record a day earlier.

"Israel’s politically-motivated statement is fundamentally at variance with the otherwise positive tone of the session and the statements made by a vast majority of states. Given Israel’s long history of oppression of Palestinians, Pakistan can certainly do without its advice on protecting human rights," she said.

On the other hand, the United Nations Human Rights Council on Tuesday unanimously adopted Pakistan’s Universal Periodic Report, Spokesperson, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Mumtaz Zahra Baloch said in a statement.

In response to the media queries on the statements made at the Human Rights Council on the occasion of the adoption of Pakistan’s Universal Periodic Report, the spokesperson said several states and civil society organizations commended Pakistan on the progress achieved in promoting human rights.

Israel’s politically motivated statement is fundamentally at variance with the otherwise positive tone of the session and the statements made by a vast majority of states.

Given Israel’s long history of oppression of Palestinians, Pakistan can certainly do without its advice on protecting Human Rights, the spokesperson added. 

India-Israel nexus with PTI now stands exposed: Sherry  

Federal Minister for Climate Change and Environmental Coordination Senator Sherry Rehman also strongly condemned the statement of Israel regarding Pakistan at the United Nations and alleged that the Israel-India support for the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and its chief had fully exposed the sinister nexus behind the May 9 mayhem.

Addressing a press conference flanked by Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Interior and Legal Affairs Attaullah Tarar, Sherry Rehman lambasted the PTI chairman for his reported venomous campaign against the state, who, she claimed, was ever ready to do anything to please Israel.

“The PTI chief believes that Israel’s violations in Palestine are fine. Today Israel also becomes an ambassador of human rights but in reality she is doing the opposite,” the minister added.

She denounced the PTI chairman for criticising and opposing his arrest. “He asks why the government did this to me? He says he was arrested in a disgraceful way, but he should know that no one is above the law,” she added.

The minister there were some sinister designs behind the curtain. Today the PTI was the best friend of Israel and Indian Prime Minister Modi, and its leader was being “baptized” in the waters of Israel.

The PTI workers, she alleged, had desecrated and harmed the monuments of martyrs on the behest of their leader, who now wanted to harm Pakistan as a whole. “Israel is supporting the former prime minister today and what does that mean?” she quipped.

The United States had always said that it was not meddling in the Pakistani politics but the PTI chief kept on dragging it, she added.

“Israel’s blaming of Pakistan in favour of the PTI at the UN meeting is highly condemnable. The PTI chairman  is part of the camp that is violating the rights of Palestinians. Israel did not speak even on the arrest and indictment of those involved in the Capitol Hill attack.”

“What is the motive that Israel is giving recommendations in favour of attacks on Pakistan’s sensitive installations? “Why Israel does not speak about human rights violations by India in the Occupied Kashmir?” she raised questions, adding in fact, it was not about human rights, but about “special sympathy” of Israel with the PTI and its chairman.

She said Israel itself had been violating the basic rights of Palestinian people every day for the last 60 years. “With what face and status Israel is lecturing the world regarding human rights,” Sherry Rehman added.

The former premier, she said, wanted to see the country becoming bankrupt. No politician or any former prime minister did not utter such words or perpetrate such hostile campaign against the country, she added.

The minister said all the reports about so-called human rights and treatment of women in detention were deliberately issued to defame the country.