Pakistan welcomes adoption of UN resolution

ALI HUSSAIN

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan, on Friday, welcomed the adoption of Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC)-led resolution by the United Nations Human Rights Council (HRC), which calls for setting up an ongoing independent international commission of inquiry to probe into Israeli violations of international humanitarian law and violations as well as abuses of international human rights law in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem.

“Pakistan welcomes the adoption of OIC-led resolution by the United Nations Human Rights Council (HRC) in response to grave violations of international law and human rights by Israel,” the Foreign Office said in a statement in response to the HRC’s resolution, which was adopted, on Thursday, in Geneva by 24 in favour, nine against, and 14 abstentions.

It stated that the HRC special session and its decision to establish a standing international commission of inquiry to investigate human rights violations represent global resolve to end systemic impunity and injustice and begin a process of meaningful accountability.

“Pakistan stands in solidarity with the Palestinian people and shares the international community’s expectation for effective implementation of this resolution to ensure respect for international law as well as for rights and dignity of the people of Palestine,” the statement added.

The special session of the HRC in Geneva adopted the historic resolution which was moved by Pakistan on the behalf of the OIC.

Those who opposed the resolution, included United Kingdom (UK) and Northern Ireland, Germany, Austria, Czech Republic, Bulgaria, Cameroon, Malawi, Marshal Island and Uruguay and the countries that abstained included, India, Japan, France, Denmark, Brazil, Bahamas, Fiji, Italy, Nepal, Netherlands, Poland, Republic of Korea, Togo, and Ukraine.

Russia, China, Mexico, Venezuela, and Senegal were among those 24 countries who supported the resolution.

Among other measures, the resolution “calls upon relevant organs, bodies and agencies of the United Nations system to cooperate fully with the commission of inquiry and to respond promptly to any request made by it, including with regard to access to all relevant information and documentation.”

The resolution also “requests the Secretary-General to allocate the resources necessary for the implementation of the present resolution and for the OHCHR to provide the logistical and technical resources necessary to support the functioning of the Commission of Inquiry.”

It “urges all States to refrain from transferring arms when they assess, in accordance with applicable national procedures and international obligations and standards, that there is a clear risk that such arms might be used in the commission or facilitation of serious violations or abuses of international human rights law or serious violations of international humanitarian law.”

Speaking at a news conference together with Minister for Information and Broadcasting Fawad Chaudhry, Minister for Human Rights Dr Shireen Mazari described the adoption of the HRC’s resolution as a “major diplomatic achievement” of PM Imran Khan’s government, adding that now, Pakistan should move a similar resolution in the HRC about Indian human rights violations in the occupied Jammu and Kashmir by seeking an active support of the OIC countries.

“With the adoption of this resolution on Israeli worst human rights violations in the occupied Palestinian territories and East Jerusalem, a precedent has now been set and Pakistan should also move a similar resolution on Jammu and Kashmir…Time has reached that Pakistan should also seek an active support of the OIC on Kashmir,” Mazari asserted.

Referring to clause 7 of the resolution, she said that the resolution indirectly urges the United States to review its decision of providing arms to Israel, as a clear risk already exists that such arms might be used in facilitation of serious violations or abuses of international human rights law or serious violations of international humanitarian law.

She also censured the countries that opposed the resolution, adding that India abstained from the resolution because it is committing the same serious violations in the occupied Jammu and Kashmir.

She said that Israel is both an apartheid regime and occupied force, and it is committing war crimes as well as ethnic cleansing.

Besides, she added that what Israeli forces did in Al-Aqsa Mosque during the holy month of Ramazan was also a direct attack on the faith of Islam.

To a question, she said that domestic pressure has been increased on the major powers, adding that it is also important in the context of Kashmir.

She said that the resolution was a sign of hope, as similar situation have also been created by the Modi government in the occupied Jammu and Kashmir.