FO Spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch takes strong exception to implementation of controversial Citizenship Amendment Act by India
ISLAMABAD, March 14 (SABAH): Pakistan has taken strong exception to the implementation of controversial Citizenship Amendment Act by India.
At her weekly news briefing in Islamabad on Thursday, Foreign Office Spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch said the legislation and the relevant rules are evidently discriminatory in nature as they differentiate amongst the people on the basis of their faith.
The spokesperson said the regulation and laws are premised on a false assumption that minorities are being persecuted in Muslim countries of the region and the facade of India being a safe haven for them.
Mumtaz Zahra Baloch pointed out that the rising wave of Hindutva under the BJP government has led to rapid political, economic and social victimization of Muslims and other minorities in India. She said the discriminatory steps further expose the sinister agenda of transforming India into Hindu Rashtra.
She advised the Indian authorities to stop pre-choreographed targeting and systematic marginalization of minorities. She said only a few days ago, a group UN special rapporteurs urged corrective actions to protect human rights and attacks against minorities in the run up to India’s national elections.
She urged India to take action to protect its own minorities especially Muslims who, she said, are in a very difficult situation because of rising Hindutva.
The spokesperson strongly condemned the Indian decision to declare illegal Kashmir National Front in illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir. With this, a total of nine Kashmiri political parties have been outlawed in IIOJK.
She said these oppressive measures reflect a vicious intent by India to stifle dissent and freedom of expression in IIOJK in complete disregard of international laws. She said India should immediately lift curbs on the banned Kashmiri political parties, release all political prisoners and forthwith implement the UNSC resolutions on Jammu and Kashmir.
Mumtaz Zahra Baloch 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.
The spokesperson informed the media that a meeting of programming committee of SAARC was held earlier this month in Kathmandu, Nepal after a gap of three years. She said it reviewed the status of SAARC processes and activities and finalized the budget and calendar of activities of the SAARC Secretariat, specialized bodies and regional centers.
She said being its founding member, Pakistan is fully committed to advancing the objectives of SAARC as enshrined in its charter. She said Pakistan has always played an active role in SAARC processes and activities.
Mumtaz Zahra Baloch said that media is aware that Mohammad Ishaq Dar, has assumed charge as the 39th Foreign Minister of Pakistan. He has been receiving briefings on key foreign policy questions. In coming days and weeks, we will be briefing the media on his upcoming engagements and meetings with foreign interlocutors.
She said that Director General (South Asia &SAARC) Ilyas Mehmood Nizami represented Pakistan at the Fifty-Ninth Session of the Programming Committee of SAARC held on 6-7 March 2024 in Kathmandu, Nepal.
A Charter body, the Programming Committee met after the gap of over three years and the last session was held in December 2020 in virtual mode.
The Committee reviewed the status of SAARC processes and activities and finalized the budgets and Calendars of Activities of SAARC Secretariat, Specialized Bodies and Regional Centers. Since the postponement of the 19th SAARC Summit which was planned to be held in Islamabad, the Programming Committee is the only Charter Body of SAARC that reviews all organizational activities and processes.
As a founding member of SAARC, Pakistan is fully committed to advancing the objectives of the organization as enshrined in its Charter and has always played an active role in the SAARC processes and activities.
Mumtaz Zahra Baloch said that Pakistan remains deeply concerned about the ongoing atrocities against the people of Gaza by Israeli occupation forces. We strongly condemn yesterday’s attack on UNRWA’s food distribution center in the eastern part of Rafah in Southern Gaza. Attack against the few remaining food distribution centers for a population on the verge of famine is part of Israel’s deliberate and inhumane policy of mass starvation. It is inhumane, unconscionable and a crime against humanity.
She said that UNRWA serves as a lifeline for over two million people, providing shelter and delivering vital food and primary healthcare services. It needs enhanced international support and protection during the ongoing inhumane war on Gaza.
Mumtaz Zahra Baloch said that Pakistan also condemns, in the strongest possible terms, the recent Israeli decision regarding construction of 3500 new settlement units in occupied West Bank. The Israeli action violates international law, international humanitarian laws and relevant resolutions of the United Nations and OIC. It would further undermine the prospects of an independent, sovereign and contiguous Palestinian state.
“We call on the United Nations Security Council to bring an end to these crimes of the occupation authorities against the people of Palestine and to fulfill its responsibilities under the UN Charter to bring an end to the sufferings of the Palestinian people” Mumtaz Zahra Baloch said.