OIC session to tackle problems facing Muslim world starts in Islamabad

ISLAMABAD: The first day of the 48th Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) conference kicked off Tuesday at Parliament House, Islamabad, as the Council of the Foreign Ministers (CFMs) of the OIC started discussions to tackle problems faced by the Muslim world.

The theme of the 48th session is “Building Partnerships for Unity, Justice, and Development”. Over a 100 resolutions will be considered during the two-day session.

Addressing the session Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi welcomed the OIC foreign ministers to the conference and said that it is a matter of pride for Pakistan to host the 48th session in 2022, which marks the 77th anniversary of Pakistan’s independence.

“The OIC is the collective voice of nearly two billion Muslims. It is the bridge among the Muslim nations and between the Muslim world and the international community,”

FM Qureshi expressed confidence that this OIC session will be guided by eternal Islamic values of amity and brotherhood, as embodied in the Quran and the teachings of the Holy Prophet (Peace Be Upon Him).

He said that promoting solidarity and cooperation within the Muslim Ummah is one of the central pillars of Pakistan’s foreign policy.

“As Chair of the OIC-CFM during 2022-23, Pakistan’s overarching goal shall be to solidify this bridging role further,” the foreign minister said.

Through the observance of this day, the OIC will create a global awareness on Islamophobia and advance solutions through collective action, Qureshi said.

FM Qureshi also highlighted global issues such as the ongoing Russo-Ukraine war, global arms race, rising commodity prices, declining world trade and growth, COVID-19, global warming, inequality and others, along with the conflicts in Middle East.

“The Muslim world is faced with conflicts in the Middle East, prolonged foreign occupation, and the denial of the right to self-determination, most notably to the people of Palestine and Kashmir.”

He said that the Muslim world’s resentment is increasing due to frequent external interventions in Muslim countries.

FM Qureshi noted that these conflicts and disputes left unaddressed, undermine the unity and solidarity among nations.

“Expose our countries to foreign interference and intervention, fuel terrorism and extremism, and deflect attention from our development goals and the welfare of our people,” he said.

The foreign minister drew the attention of OIC FMs towards three specific challenges “to help forge a collective response” under the theme of “Partnering for Unity, Justice, and Development.

The following are the three challenges mentioned by FM

• First, partnering for unity by jointly addressing the challenges and conflicts within the Ummah.
• Second, uniting for justice for the rights of Muslims under occupation and conflicts with countries beyond our Ummah. This should also include the urgency of addressing the pervasive Islamophobia facing Muslims in non-Muslim majority countries.
• Third, partnering for development by effectively addressing the triple global crises of Covid-19, development, and climate change.

He went on to say that the OIC nations must work to prevent outside interference in the Muslim world as alone they can find solutions to internal fissures and challenges.

“The key to ending these conflicts and disputes is comprehensive engagement and cooperation among the Islamic countries.”

FM Qureshi urged the Muslim world to forge a collective response to the current turmoil inside its borders and the ongoing global transition. He said that the Muslim ummah must be a reliable partner in forging unity, justice, and development across the globe, but not anyone’s accomplice in aggression or domination.

He also proposed convening an OIC Ministerial Conference during 2022-2023.

“This Conference, among others, could assess the need for establishing a peace and security architecture akin to all other regional organisations,” he said.

The foreign minister said that this Conference should also discuss how the OIC can and must strengthen itself by developing and deploying tools for conflict prevention, mediation, reconciliation and peacebuilding.

FM Qureshi highlights Kashmir and Palestine issues 

Stating the vision behind the OIC’s creation, which was to raise the united voice of Islamic Ummah against the injustices perpetrated against Palestinian Muslims under occupation, FM Qureshi expressed that OIC nations are far from seeing justice for Muslims in many parts of the world even after 50 years of the organisation’s creation.

The FM shed light on the misery of Muslims in Palestine and Indian Occupied Jammu and Kashmir, saying that they are still reeling under abominable subjugation.

He said that under the relevant United Nations resolutions, a permanent solution to the Palestinian question with the pre-1967 borders and Al-Quds Al-Sharif as the capital of a viable, independent, and contiguous Palestinian State is essential.

Similarly, he said that the threat of genocide is most imminent in the IOJK.

“The RSS-BJP Hindutva-inspired government in India has unleashed a reign of terror by an occupation force of 900,000 in IIOJK since 5 August 2019.”

Condemning the violations of UN Security Council and OIC’s resolutions by India in IOJK, FM Qureshi said:

“These illegal acts increased the threat of a conflict between India and Pakistan. Kashmiris are looking towards their Muslim brothers and sisters for support.”

He said that the situation in IOJK and Palestine are akin as the illegal efforts to change the demographic structure of a occupied territory and transform it into a Muslim minority region continue.

“This is a clear violation of international law, particularly the Fourth Geneva Convention,” he added.

FM Qureshi said that it is crucial to resolve these challenges by partnering with the international community as well.

Beyond adopting resolutions, the OIC nations must take concrete and tangible steps towards permanent solutions, he suggested.

According to FM Qureshi, a similar resolve and unity is needed in countering the ideologies of hate — such as Islamophobia and right-wing racism.

“Repeated incidents of desecration of the Holy Quran and reprinting of caricatures have seriously hurt the sentiments of Muslims across the world. They also cause great anguish within the Islamic world,” he said.

FM Qureshi stressed the OIC nations collectively ensure that deliberate insults and defamation of all religions, including Islam, should also be criminalised. 

The foreign minister welcomed the recent designation of 15 March as the “International Day to Combat Islamophobia” by the UN General Assembly.

He said that Pakistan is gratified to have played its role in garnering consensus on this important issue.

Through the observance of this Day, the OIC will enhance greater global awareness of this pernicious phenomenon and advance solutions through collective action, he added.

FM Qureshi proposes development of detailed report on Partnering for Justice

FM Qureshi proposed that the OIC secretary-general develops a comprehensive report on the theme of Partnering for Justice and presents recommendations to the next OIC CFM on how the OIC, through proactive and innovative diplomacy, could strengthen its role in securing justice for the long-oppressed Muslims facing hateful ideologies and occupation.

He suggested that the OIC countries must mobilise international support for a comprehensive strategy to forge partnership for development.

The strategy should include:

• One, vaccine equity. Everyone, everywhere, must be vaccinated against Covid-19,
• Two, increased development financing. This can be ensured through comprehensive debt relief and restructuring, expanded ODA, redistribution of at least half of the unutilized SDRs to developing countries, and provision of the promised climate finance.
• Third, accelerated climate action. The agreement reached at Glasgow must be the baseline for future discussions. The OIC must call for additional commitments by the international community to achieve the agreed mitigation targets, support for adaptation, and loss and damage in developing countries due to climate change.
• Four, the resolute action against illicit financial flows. Corruption and illegal transfer of assets have adversely impacted many Muslim countries, including Pakistan. The OIC countries must develop a comprehensive legal framework to halt and reverse the illicit financial flows and stop this grave economic injustice. We must call for the implementation of the recommendations of the UN Secretary General’s FACTI panel.

Later during the day, in his keynote address at the inaugural, Prime Minister Imran Khan will spotlight the role and contributions of Pakistan towards the OIC and reflect on the challenges the Muslim world is facing.

The session will be addressed by the foreign minister of Saudi Arabia Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud, OIC Secretary-General Hissein Brahim Taha, Islamic Development Bank President Muhammad Suleiman Al-Jasser, Chinese State Councilor and Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wangi Yi.

Meanwhile, a video message by United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres will be shown on the occasion.

The 48th OIC session coincides with the celebrations of Pakistan Day.

On March 23, the visiting foreign ministers will visit the Pakistan Day parade venue and witness the professional capability of Pakistan’s armed forces and the traditional floats of all the provinces, reflecting the national unity.

Later in the day, Foreign Minister Qureshi along with OIC Secretary General Hissein Brahim Taha will hold a joint press stakeout following the conclusion of the session.

The summit will also discuss developments in Afghanistan and its humanitarian consequences for the Afghan people and the situation in Jammu and Kashmir, it added.

Many African issues will also be on the summit’s agenda, including the situation in Mali, the Sahel region, and Lake Chad, and the situation in Central Africa and the Republic of Guinea.

The OIC foreign ministers will also discuss developments in Yemen, Libya, Sudan, Somalia, Syria, and other regions during the summit.

Pakistan has a proud history of hosting major OIC events including Summits and Council of Foreign Minister (CFM) meetings.

The country hosted the 2nd OIC Summit in Lahore, in February 1974. An Extraordinary OIC Summit was held in Islamabad in 1997, on the occasion of Pakistan’s Golden Jubilee.

Pakistan also hosted the OIC CFMs on four occasions, 2nd Session in December 1970, 11th Session in May 1980, 21st Session in April 1993 and the 34th Session in May 2007. The 1st and the 17th Extraordinary Sessions of the OIC CFM, were held in Islamabad, in January 1980 and December 2021, respectively.

FM Qureshi and OIC secretary-general review agenda of 48th session

Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi and OIC Secretary General Hissein Brahim Taha reviewed the agenda of 48th Council of Foreign Ministers and exchanged views on the main outcomes expected from the conference.

They also discussed the issues confronting the Islamic Ummah and the role of the OIC in that regard.

Whilst highlighting the grim human rights and humanitarian situation in the Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK), the foreign minister expressed appreciation for OIC’s principled position and consistent support for the just struggle of Kashmiris for their right to self-determination.

Welcoming the recent adoption of the resolution at the United Nations General Assembly designating March 15 as the International Day to Combat Islamophobia, the foreign minister lauded the support extended by the OIC and its member states to Pakistan’s initiative.

He commended the proposal to appoint OIC’s Special Envoy on Islamophobia to help coordinate the work of the organisation and its member states for addressing discrimination and stigmatisation of the Muslims all over the world.

Referring to the humanitarian and economic crises being faced by the Afghan people, Qureshi stressed the importance of the implementation of decisions taken at the extraordinary session of the OIC-CFM held in Islamabad on December 19 last year and welcomed the operationalisation of the Humanitarian Trust Fund for Afghanistan.

The OIC secretary-general assured the foreign minister of the OIC Secretariat’s full support and cooperation during Pakistan’s chairmanship of CFM.

Meanwhile, Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting Farrukh Habib said that the 48th session of OIC Council of Foreign Ministers would play an important role in promoting unity of the Islamic Ummah and resolution of the problems being faced by the Muslims.

While talking to media after receiving the OIC Secretary General Hussain Ibrahim Taha here, he said that the session would also take up the recent achievement of the Muslim Ummah against Islamophobia, when the UN General Assembly adopted a resolution to observe March 15 day against Islamophobia every year.

He said that Pakistan had moved the resolution on behalf of the OIC.

He said that secretary general of the OIC had also visited Pakistan three months back when an emergency session of OIC Foreign Ministers was held on Afghanistan.

Speaking on the occasion, the OIC secretary-general said that he was very happy to be back in Pakistan.

He said that during the upcoming OIC Foreign Ministers meeting all important issues related to Muslim Ummah would be discussed.

Islamabad administration restricts rallies in Red Zone

Meanwhile, Islamabad administration asked the government and the opposition to change venues of their public gatherings in the capital and proposed alternatives venues, local media reported.

According to sources privy to the matter, the Islamabad administration suggested the government to change venue of its public gathering on March 27 and shift it to the Parade Ground Parking area.

Moreover, they further said that the opposition had also agreed to change venue of its public gathering from D-chowk. “The local administration has offered opposition to hold the gathering at sector H-9,” they said.