ISLAMABAD: The federal government has hosted a multi-party conference (MPC) sans Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) to observe the first anniversary of Israel’s genocide in Gaza that killed over 41,900 Palestinians.
During the conference, hosted by President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, political leaders unanimously condemned Israel’s atrocities in the Middle East and collectively voiced against the ongoing invasion of Gaza.
Apart from that, the ‘Day of Solidarity with Palestinian People’ is being observed across Pakistan today to express support to Muslim brothers and sisters facing the worst brutalities of Israeli forces.
The conference is being held at the President’s House in Islamabad and is being attended by the Prime Minister, President, federal minister, and political leaders of various parties including PML-N President Nawaz Sharif, PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, JUI-F Chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman, Jamaat-e-Islami Chief Hafiz Naeem-ur-Rehman.
Moreover, ANP Chief Aimal Wali Khan, Khalid Magsi of Balochistan Awami Party, MQM leader Dr Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui, PML-Zia Ijazul Haq, former caretaker Prime Minister Anwar-ul-Haq Kakar, and Abdul Aleem Khan of Istehkam-e-Pakistan Party were also among others.
The declaration adopted by the all-parties conference except PTI today, the forum called for a lifting of the siege of Gaza, provision of unimpeded humanitarian, and medical aid, and holding Israel accountable for its violations of international law, war crimes, and acts of genocide.
The conference has demanded an immediate and unconditional ceasefire and an end to brutalities against the Palestinian people, the declaration said.
The resolution passed on the occasion urged the international community to take urgent measures to prevent Israel from further undermining regional peace and stability, including the prevention of Israeli aggression against Lebanon and other regional countries.
Condemning Israeli oppression, the resolution expressed full support for the ongoing political and diplomatic efforts by the OIC, the League of Arab States, the United Nations, and other brotherly countries in addressing the prevailing situation in Occupied Palestine, as well as for the peace and stability of the broader region.
The conference decided to observe, with special fervor, November 29 2024 as a Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People.
Participants strongly reaffirmed the right of the people of Kashmir to self-determination and called for the settlement of the Jammu and Kashmir Dispute in accordance with the wishes of the Kashmiri people and the relevant UN resolutions.
نہتے فلسطینیوں سے اظہار یکجہتی کیلئے آل پارٹیز کانفرنس pic.twitter.com/6jO2W74kGB
— PTV News (@PTVNewsOfficial) October 7, 2024
PM urges urgent ceasefire
Addressing the multi-parties conference on Palestine, the prime minister said it was the time for the Muslim World to move forward and take practical steps to prevent Israel from further bloodshed in Palestine.
“The priority should be to stop the bloodshed in Palestine, which is a foremost duty, and for this, the platform of the OIC is available.”
The prime minister announced to formulation of a working group that would make decisions in the light of proposals presented in the Conference.
He also agreed with other participants’ views that instead of adhering to a two-state solution, the focus should be on demanding an independent state of Palestine with Al-Quds as its capital.
As regards dispatching relief goods to Palestine, PM Shehbaz said the government was making full efforts in this regard. He also appreciated the Al-Khidmat Foundation for cooperating with the government.
Furthermore, he announced that the orphan Palestinian students would also be given admission and other facilities in Pakistan’s medical colleges.
President calls UNSC to de-escalate tension
Presdient Asif Ali Zardari said the international community must take swift action to de-escalate the situation. He called upon the international community to take immediate steps to halt Israel’s brutalities, prevent further loss of lives, and prevent conflict from spilling over.
The President said Pakistan reiterates its call for the United Nations Security Council to uphold peace and security in the region, safeguard Lebanon’s sovereignty, and put an end to the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
The president said that “Israeli occupation forces are committing genocide in Gaza, which resulted in the martyrdom of over 41,800 Palestinians, besides destroying infrastructure since last year.”
He pointed out that Israel had even expanded its relentless attacks to target Lebanon, Syria, and Yemen and endangered regional and global peace and security.
He said we will continue to raise our voice to all regional and international forces to stop Israel’s human rights violations and aggression. We believe that peace in the Middle East cannot be achieved without resolving the Palestine issue following the UN Security Council resolutions.
We don’t support two-state solution: JUI-F chief
Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) Chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman said our party does not accept a “two-state solution” to the Palestine issue in contrast to Pakistan’s official stance. “It is an Arab land and all Jews should be expelled. There is no political or religious basis for Israel to exist.”
He mentioned that until October 7 last year, people were coming on television pushing the recognition of Israel. When Hamas fighters attacked Israel, “all of these conversations stopped”, Fazl added.
While addressing the conference at the President’s House, Maulana called for taking practical steps to help the Palestinians instead of passing resolutions and issuing condemnations, adding that a joint platform of leading Muslim countries should be formed to evolve a common strategy to face multiple challenges.
Referring to the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO), Fazl maintained that all political parties should display unity, despite their differences, for the sake of the country on the global stage. “We are seated here in solidarity with Palestine, but we remain divided on politics and elections here,” he said. “If the SCO is being hosted here, we need to display unity to gain the trust of the world.”
Bilawal proposes high-power committee
PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari proposed to constitute a high-power committee, having representation from all the political forces of the country, to raise voices for the oppressed people of Palestine
The former federal minister said the entire Pakistani nation is standing behind the Palestinian brothers and sisters in their struggle against Israeli oppression.
He stressed the need to launch an intensive diplomatic campaign to fight the case of Palestinians on diplomatic and legal fronts. He said the media should also be effectively engaged to expose the imperialist, colonial, and Zionist agenda of Israel.
“Today, the whole world can see that Pakistan is a poor country. We have societal issues, terrorism threats, etc, but, where the matter of Palestine is concerned, every single Pakistani is on the same page,” Bilawal said in his speech.
Bilawale affirmed that his party would offer any kind of support needed, and said other parties would do so too. “We are ready to fight a political war, internationally, at a foreign affairs forum, we are ready to fight a diplomatic war.”
“I ask, that if the hostages are behind this war that started on Oct 7, then we should be told how many hostages are in Yemen, in Lebanon, in Iran. October 7 and hostages and the crocodile tears [of Israel] are just excuses,” he added.
“What is their purpose? It is not only to completely just capture Palestine, or to commit genocide in Gaza and the West Bank. The purpose is to also capture Lebanon, and Egypt,” Bilawal stated. He reiterated the need for Pakistan, the Muslim world and the UN to unveil the “zionist agenda and their conspiracy”.
Nawaz questions world’s silence on Israeli atrocities
Addressing the APC, the three-time former prime minister Nawaz Sharif said that Israel continued its brutalities in Palestine and questioned the world’s silence on atrocities in Gaza.
PLM-N President Nawaz Sharif has said that the entire nation wanted the political leadership to make a decision on Gaza and Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK). He also urged the Muslim countries to get united and evolve a joint strategy to get the ongoing bloodshed in Palestine stopped.
Nawaz Sharif also commended Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif for forcefully raising the issue of Palestine and grave human rights violations by Israel in Gaza during his address to the United Nations General Assembly.
He said the United Nations should implement its resolutions on Palestine and Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK).
MQM demands education scholarships for Palestinian students
MQM Convener Dr. Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui said Islamic countries should open their educational institutions to accommodate Palestinian students, besides sending assistance to the oppressed people of Gaza.
He further demanded the federal government to sponsor the education of Palestinian children in all public-private universities.
“We staged protests and politically raised this issue, however, we also need to put up this matter diplomatically,” he added. Siddiqui urged the government to take practical steps in support of the Palestinian brethren.
Acknowledging the federal minister’s demand, the Prime Minister during the conference announced that the orphan Palestinian students would also be given admission and other facilities in Pakistan’s medical colleges.
