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Summary Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar says that state is not involved in abduction of missing persons.
FM Hina Rabbani Khar said that the UN Working Group visit gave a positive message to the world.She said while briefing the Senate Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and Kashmir Affairs and Gilgit-Baltistan on Friday on visit of United Nations Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances.The Committee met at the Parliament House under the Chairmanship of Senator Haji Muhammad Adeel to discuss the visit of United Nations working group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances and the detail about new visa agreement signed between India and Pakistan.A detailed discussion took place on the visit of United Nations Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances. Senator Haji Muhammad Adeel and other members of the Committee endorsed this initiative and said that we are a part of global village and the visit of the working group has helped highlight Pakistan’s stance on the issue and challenges being faced.Minister for Foreign Affairs, Hina Rabbani Khar gave a detailed briefing on visit of United Nations Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances. She said that the group was not on any special mission to Pakistan.It was neither a commission nor a country specific as the group had already received invitation from more then 90 countries and had already visited around 30 countries. She said that the ministry had carried out extensive exercise including inter ministerial consultations. She also apprised the committee about the preliminary report of the working group which had many positive things.The committee also asked the Ministry of Foreign Affairs about reasons of the postponement of visit by Russian President. Senator Haji Muhammad Adeel and others members of the Committee observed that Pakistan, at regional level, desires to develop cordial relationship with all and the visit would have had positive impacts on the bilateral relationship between Pakistan and Russia.Senator Sehar Kamran, however, observed that Pakistan’s foreign policy was on the right track. She said that the visit of Chief of Army Staff, General Pervez Ashraf Kiyani to Russia and the visit of Russian Foreign Minister were positive indicators.Secretary Ministry of Foreign Affairs Jalil Abbas Jilani informed the committee about the current status of visa agreement between Pakistan and India. He said that the agreement has yet to be ratified by the cabinet before formal implementation .Chairman of the Committee Senator Haji Muhammad Adeel and other members expressed their concern over the delay in implementation of the visa agreement signed between Pakistan and India. The Committee directed the Ministry of Interior to expedite the process of ratification of agreement from the cabinet as early as possible.Later, the Committee passed a resolution. The resolution was presented by Senator Sehar Kamran which was unanimously adopted by the Committee. Text of the resolution is as under:-“The Senate Standing Committee on Foreign Affair, Kashmir Affairs and Gilgit-Baltistan, through a resolution, strongly condemned the film that has attacked and insulted the Holy Prophet Muhammad (PBUH).The Committee emphasizes that such an act has very deeply injured the religious sentiments of the Muslims all over the world, and has sparked a worldwide wave of protest and violence. We understand that such productions have been made to instigate hostility and hate among sects.The Committee also appreciates the bold and courageous address by President Asif Ali Zardari to the United Nations’ General Assembly; the President of Pakistan has very rightly expressed the sentiments of the Muslim Ummah, especially the people of Pakistan on the blasphemy issue during his address.We fully endorse and commend the statement of President Zardari asking the international community not to become a silent observer on the acts of blasphemy and criminalize such acts that destroy the peace of the world and endanger world security by misusing freedom of expression. We second the demand to the United Nations to immediately address this alarming concern and the widening rift to enable the comity of nations to be one again.Religious humiliation is a violation of dignity, respect and human values, the peace in the world can only be achieved if we learn to respect human values and religious beliefs and do not mock religious views in a cover of the freedom of speech. We call upon UN to formulate international law to restrict blasphemy and ensure respect for the holy values of the Islamic religion and other religions.The Committee also requested the public to observe patience in expression of their anger, violence is against the teaching of Islam, attacking innocent people, damaging public property, and violent protests have resulted in irrecoverable damages, which is big loss for the county”.Members of the committee appreciated the effort of Senator Sehar Kamran and endorsed the resolution. The meeting was attended among others by Senators Babar Khan Ghauri, Farhatullah Babar, Mrs. Sehar Kamran, Muhammad Jahangir Badar, Syed Mustafa Kamal, Syeda Sughra Imam, Mohammad Ishaq Dar and Molana Abdul Ghafoor Haideri. Minister for Foreign Affair, Hina Rabbani Khar, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Hamad Malik, Secretary of the Ministry and other senior officials were also present. Special Secretary Senate, Amjad Pervez Malik also attended.
