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Kashmiri people’s rights to freely practice their religion and of peaceful assembly must be respected: Mumtaz Zahra Baloch

ISLAMABAD, April 19 (SABAH): Foreign Office Spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch has said that  we express our deep dismay over the Indian authorities’ decision to prohibit observances of key religious events, including Jumma-tul-Wida, Shab-e-Qadr, and Eid-ul-Fitr prayers, at Srinagar’s Jamia Masjid. This was the fifth consecutive year when Eid-ul-Fitr prayers were not allowed to take place at this historic mosque, she said. Imposing curbs on the religious leaders and preventing Kashmiris from congregating on special religious occasions pose serious challenges to the religious freedom of Muslims in

Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK). The Kashmiri people’s rights to freely practice their religion and of peaceful assembly must be respected.

This was stated by FO Spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch while addressing the weekly press briefing on Friday. She said that Pakistan will continue to extend political, diplomatic and moral support to our Kashmiri brothers and sisters for the just and peaceful settlement of the Jammu and Kashmir dispute in accordance with the UN Security Council Resolutions.

Mumtaz Zahra Baloch said that this week’s highlight was the visit of a ministerial delegation led by Foreign Minister of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud to Islamabad. The purpose of the visit was to accelerate discussions on enhanced bilateral economic cooperation in the follow up of the understandings reached between Prime Minister of Pakistan Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif and Crown Prince and Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Mohammed bin Salman, during their recent meeting in Makkah Al Mukarramah.

She said that at the ‘Saudi Arabia-Pakistan Investment Conference’ co-chaired by the two Foreign Ministers, the two sides discussed investment proposals in diverse sectors such as energy, mining, agriculture, information technology, construction, human resource development and exports. The investment conference was aimed at paving the way for Saudi investments in Pakistan. We will continue our constructive engagement with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to enhance our economic and strategic partnership.

FO spokesperson said that the Foreign Ministers of Pakistan and Saudi Arabia discussed global and regional developments. There was unanimity of views on the increasing instability in the region. The two Foreign Ministers urged de-escalation and called for an immediate ceasefire, lifting of the siege of Gaza and access to unimpeded humanitarian aid for the besieged people of Gaza.

  Mumtaz Zahra Baloch said that Pakistan is deeply disappointed at the result of the last night’s debate at the United Nation Security Council and its inability to reach consensus and recommend Palestine’s membership of the United Nations to the General Assembly. We regret the U.S. decision to veto the draft resolution granting full membership of the UN to Palestine.

Mumtaz Zahra Baloch said that we believe the time has come for admission of Palestine to the United Nations. This will be a step towards correcting the historic injustice suffered by the Palestinian people for over 75 years. It will affirm their right to self-determination. The people of Palestine have an inherent right to live in a sovereign, independent and contiguous Palestinian State within the 4 June 1967 borders and with Al-Quds Al-Shareef as its capital.