ISLAMABAD: President Asif Ali Zardari on Monday expressing deep concerns over the growing Israeli adventurism in the region and escalation of tension, called for the international community’s role to take swift action to restore peace and prevent conflict from spilling over.
The president, in his opening remarks at the All Parties Conference, convened by the government to mark a year of Israel’s barbarism in Palestine, said that during the last year, the Israeli occupation forces had killed over 41,800 Palestinians besides destroying the infrastructure.
The moot was attended by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Chairman of Senate Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani, federal cabinet members, PML-N President Nawaz Sharif, PPP chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman, Jamat-e-Islami Ameer Hafiz Naeemur Rehman and leaders of other mainstream political parties.
The president said that Israel had even expanded its relentless attacks to target Lebanon, Syria and Yemen and endangered regional and global peace and security.
He said that regrettably, the international community had failed to stop Israel from committing genocide against the Palestinian population, specifically in Gaza and also questioned the prevailing situation of impunity.
President Zardari said that it was crucial for the international community to take swift action to de-escalate the tension and prevent further loss of lives and conflict from spilling over to other parts of the region.
He also emphasised the UN Security Council to fulfill its responsibility of establishing peace and security in Palestine and Lebanon and reiterated Pakistan’s decades-old stance for a two-state solution by establishing an independent Palestine state on the basis of pre-1967 borders, with Al-Quds as its capital.
President Zardari stressed that peace in the Middle East could not be achieved without resolving the Palestine issue in accordance with the UN Security Council resolutions.
Calling for a total withdrawal of Israeli forces from Palestine, he also asked the UNSC to restrain Israel from violation of international laws to restore peace in the Middle East.
The president reiterated Pakistan’s position of total withdrawal of Israeli forces from occupied Arab territories including Jerusalem and restoring the inalienable right of Palestinian people to self-determination.
PML-N President Nawaz Sharif said Israel is committing barbarism against innocent people of Palestine, including women and children. He questioned the strange silence adopted by the world community on this issue of humanity.
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 Kashmir. He also urged the Muslim countries to get united and evolve a joint strategy to get the ongoing bloodshed in the Palestine stopped.
Addressing the APC, Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) Chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman said, "Our party does not accept two-state solution [of Palestine issue]".
The cleric gave his politico-religious party's stance on the longstanding Palestinian issue while addressing an all-parties conference (APC) at the President's House to show solidarity with Palestinians today on war anniversary.
Fazl said that Hamas mujahideen had launched an attack on Israel last year which changed the genre of the Palestine issue. Rejecting the two-state solution, the JUI-F chief said that there is no justification for Jewish population or settlement in this region.
Jamaat-e-Islami Chief Hafiz Naeem-ur-Rehman said Israel is carrying out genocide in Palestine. He added that occupied Israeli forces are committing worst atrocities against the humanity.
Hafiz Naeem-ur-Rehman said we have to take a very clear stance on the Israeli brutalities against innocent Palestinians.
He said it is also responsibility of the international community to play its role in stopping the Israeli brutalities in Palestine.
He proposed to convene a meeting of the Islamic countries to adopt a common stance in this regard. He said Pakistan should play a proactive role to launch a diplomatic campaign to highlight this issue at the world fora.
PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari said the entire Pakistani nation is standing behind the Palestinian brothers and sisters in their struggle against Israeli oppression. He stressed the need for launching an intensive diplomatic campaign to fight the case of Palestinians on diplomatic and legal fronts. He said media should also be effectively engaged to expose the imperialist, colonial, and Zionist agenda of Israel. He proposed to constitute a high-power committee, having representation from all the political forces of the country, to raise voice for the oppressed people of Palestine.
The Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) has demanded the federal government to sponsor the education of Palestinian children in all public-private universities.
"Israel is challenging the honour of Muslims every day," said MQM-P Convener Dr Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui while addressing an all-parties conference at the President's House to show solidarity with Palestinians on war anniversary.
"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.
Balochistan Awami Party leader Khalid Magsi called for getting united to utilize all resources and energy to protect lives of the Palestinian people.
Those, who also spoke on the occasion, include PML-Q leader Chaudhry Salik Hussain, IPP leader Abdul Aleem Khan leader Aimal Wali Khan, National Party leader Jan Muhammad Buledi, Raja Nasir Abbas of MWM, Sunni Tehreek leader Sarwat IJaz Qadri, and Religious Scholar Hafiz Tahir Ashrafi.
