We categorically reject baseless assertions made about Pak in Int’l Religious Freedom Report released by US Department of State: FO Spokesperson
ISLAMABAD, May 18 (SABAH): Foreign Office Spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch has said that we categorically reject the baseless assertions made about Pakistan in the International Religious Freedom Report released by the U.S. Department of State. Such ill-informed reporting exercises about internal affairs of sovereign states are pointless, irresponsible and counterproductive, she said. She said that Pakistan welcomes the important statement made by the United Nations Special Rapporteur on Minority Affairs, Dr. Fernand de Varennes, on the situation in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK).
This was stated by FO Spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch while addressing the weekly press briefing.
FO spokesperson said that Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif is at the Pakistan-Iran border on Thursday where he will meet President of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Seyed Ebrahim Raisi. In their meeting, the two leaders will discuss all aspects of bilateral relations and explore new areas of cooperation to further strengthen Pakistan-Iran ties. They will inaugurate Mand-Pishin Border Sustenance Marketplace and Polan-Gabd Electricity Transmission Line at Mand-Pishin border crossing point.
She said that the Mand-Pishin Border Sustenance Marketplace is one of the six border markets to be constructed along the Pakistan-Iran border as agreed under the MoU signed on 21st April 2021. The border markets are envisaged along the Pakistan-Iran border to facilitate the people on both sides of the border with enhanced cross-border trade, fostering economic growth and opening up of new avenues of opportunity for local businesses.
Mumtaz Zahra Baloch said that the Polan-Gabd Electricity Transmission Line has been developed in implementation of the agreement signed between the two governments during the visit of Federal Minister for Energy to Iran in July last year. This transmission line will supplement the electricity being purchased from Iran for the border Makran region via the 132 KV Makran Division electricity transmission line. The additional 100 MW electricity via Polan-Gabd will help offset the energy needs of households and businesses in the Balochistan province.
She said that Deputy Minister of Interior of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Dr. Nasir bin Abdulaziz Al-Dawood visited Pakistan on 16 – 17 May 2023. He called on the Prime Minister, Minister of Interior, and the Minister of Narcotics Control. During the visit two sides also signed the Agreement on Road to Makkah Project. Road to Makkah project is a mechanism for shifting immigration and customs clearance process from Saudi Arabia to Islamabad International Airport aimed to relieve Hujjaj from the ordeal of immigration and customs clearance on landing at Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA). The two sides will remain engaged to expand the number of airports in Pakistan to benefit from this facility.
Mumtaz Zahra Baloch said that Pakistan has joined the Global Forum on Cyber Expertise (GFCE) as its 107th Member. GFCE is an international, multi-stakeholder platform established in 2015 to promote collaboration and capacity building in cybersecurity. Pakistan’s decision to join the Forum is in line with its longstanding commitment to promoting safe, secure and stable cyberspace for all.
Mumtaz Zahra Baloch said that GFCE membership opens doors for international collaboration and partnerships. The Forum will provide a platform for meaningful exchanges with international stakeholders, fostering relationships, and expanding networks in the field of cybersecurity. We hope that such collaboration would lead to joint initiatives, research projects, and knowledge-sharing opportunities, ultimately boosting Pakistan’s expertise in cyber defense and policy-making.
FO spokesperson said that we categorically reject the baseless assertions made about Pakistan in the International Religious Freedom Report released by the U.S. Department of State. Such ill-informed reporting exercises about internal affairs of sovereign states are pointless, irresponsible and counterproductive.
Mumtaz Zahra Baloch said that we are proud of our religious diversity and pluralistic social fabric. Pakistan’s Constitution, sets a robust framework for wide-ranging legal, policy and affirmative measures to safeguard and advance the rights and freedoms of all Pakistanis irrespective of their faith. These rights and constitutional guarantees are protected, upheld and reinforced by an independent judiciary.
Mumtaz Zahra Baloch said that we strongly believe that each State itself has the primary responsibility to promote and protect religious rights and freedoms of its nationals. With this understanding, Pakistan has always engaged constructively with the international community in promoting mutual understanding on the important question of religious freedom and minority rights. In our interactions, including with the United States, we have raised serious concerns about the steady surge in anti-Muslim hatred, racism and Islamophobia. We hope to work with international partners to counter these pernicious forms of religious intolerance, discrimination and Islamophobia, she said.
Mumtaz Zahra Baloch said that Pakistan has been closely following the developments in Gaza and other Occupied Palestinian Territories and is concerned about the impact of violence on the civilian population. We strongly condemn the loss of precious lives of more than 33 Palestinians including women and children over the last several days and pray for the recovery of those injured. We call on Israel to adhere to its international obligations and respect the recent ceasefire agreement, ending days of bloodshed and indiscriminate use of force in Gaza by the Israeli occupation forces.
FO spokesperson said that Pakistan reaffirms its unstinted support for the Palestinian cause and renews its call for a viable, independent and contiguous Palestinian State, with pre-1967 borders and Al-Quds Al-Sharif as its capital as the only just, comprehensive and lasting solution of the Palestinian question, in accordance with the relevant United Nations and OIC resolutions.
Mumtaz Zahra Baloch said thatPakistan welcomes the important statement made by the United Nations Special Rapporteur on Minority Affairs, Dr. Fernand de Varennes, on the situation in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK). In this statement, the Special Rapporteur has warned against Indian plans to hold the G-20 Tourism Working Group meeting in Srinagar, IIOJK. He has rightly said that India is providing a “veneer of support to a façade of normalcy” at a time when massive human rights violations, illegal and arbitrary arrests, political persecution, restrictions and even suppression of free media and human rights defenders continue to escalate. We agree with the Special Rapporteur that the situation in Jammu and Kashmir should be “decried and condemned, not pushed under the rug and ignored” with the holding of the G-20 meeting. Members of G20 should pay due attention to these observations and sage advice.
She said that Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari shared similar sentiments in a meeting with a delegation of the Azad Jammu & Kashmir chapter of the All Parties Hurriyat Conference (APHC) on 11th May. He reaffirmed Pakistan’s continued moral, political and diplomatic support to the Kashmiri people’s just struggle for their inherent right to self-determination. He also stressed that the Jammu and Kashmir dispute should be resolved in accordance with the relevant UN Security Council resolutions and aspirations of the Kashmiri people. Foreign Ministers’ meeting with APHC’s AJK chapter took place at a time when the entire pro-freedom political leadership in the Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) remains incarcerated. The 10-member delegation was led by Mehmood Ahmed Saghar, Convenor.
Mumtaz Zahra Baloch announced that the fourth Round of Bilateral Political Consultations between Pakistan and Ireland will be held in Islamabad later in the day on Thursday. The consultations will be co-chaired by Ambassador Muhammad Saleem, Additional Foreign Secretary (Europe) and Ms. Sonja Hyland, Deputy Secretary General, Department of Foreign Affairs, Ireland.
The two sides will review the state of bilateral relations and discuss cooperation in political, economic and trade, education, tourism, science and technology, climate change domains. Political Consultations with Ireland is an important bilateral mechanism that provides a forum for better understanding of each other’s perspective on regional and global affairs, and deepening of partnership between Pakistan and Ireland.