PM Shehbaz effectively pleaded Palestinians case as leader of Ummah: Tarar

ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Information, Broadcasting, National Heritage and Culture Attaullah Tarar said on Tuesday that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif effectively pleaded the case of Palestinians during his historic speech at the United Nations General Assembly as the leader of Muslim Ummah. Addressing a press conference, the minister said that PM Shehbazs address to the UNGA was highly appreciated all over the world, which was an honour for Pakistan. The prime minister championed the causes of Muslim Ummah, including Palestine and Kashmir, he added. His bilateral meetings with heads of state and government of other countries on the sidelines of the UNGA session also proved very fruitful and constructive in that regard, the minister said. Tarar said that the PMs speech also proved that Pakistans foreign policy was successful and that Islamabad was an important player both at the international level and in the region. “The prime minister vociferously raised the Palestine issue in his UNGA session and during his meetings on the sidelines, which was acknowledged by the international community and that is a matter of pride for Pakistan,” he reiterated. The minister said that PM Shehbaz had always raised the Palestine issue at all international fora. He not only highlighted the Palestinians genocide and Israeli war crimes in Gaza but also stressed that the aggressor should be brought to justice. The PMs UNGA address was among the most watched events on the internet, and it would figure on top in the UN history as there was a true representation of the sentiments of entire Muslim Ummah, he added. Tarar said that led by PM Shehbaz, the Pakistani delegation boycotted the address of Israeli prime minister and many other countries followed suit, whose representatives also walked out of the General Assembly hall. Netanyahu delivered his speech in an almost empty hall, he added. He said that Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas also appreciated Pakistans support and termed PM Shehbaz his brother. “The President of Palestine recognized and lauded the role of Pakistan highlighting the Palestinian cause at every world forum,” he maintained. The Palestinian president, he said, also appreciated Pakistan for sending medical supplies and granting admission to Palestinian students in its medical colleges. The minister said that Pakistan was the only country in the world which had written on its passports that they were valid for all countries except Israel. Tarar said besides Palestine, the prime minister also effectively highlighted the Kashmir cause in his UNGA speech and made a special mention of Kashmiri freedom struggle icon Burhan Wani. The PM, he said, also pointed out the Hindutva supremacist approach of the Modi regime which was converting Muslim majority in occupied Kashmir into a minority. He not only criticised India for its atrocities in Kashmir but also warned it against any misadventure against Pakistan, the minister added. Tarar said it was a good sign that the entire Pakistani nation had appreciated the PM’s speech and even the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf supported lauded him for effectively pleading the Muslim Ummahs case. He said that the International Monetary Fund, World Bank and other international financial institutions were appreciating Pakistan’s economic growth.