ISLAMABAD: Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi on Wednesday described Pakistan’s re-election to the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) with 169 votes out of 193 as an important diplomatic achievement, and thanked the countries who voted for Pakistan.

In a televised statement, Qureshi said that it was a result of the concerted efforts that “every region voted for Pakistan in the UNHRC”, adding that Prime Minister Imran Khan had sent letters for support to the heads of governments of various countries as well as he as foreign minister had contacted a number of his counterparts to seek support.

“I thank all the countries that added Pakistan in their priority by voting it,” he said.

He also congratulated Pakistani Missions in New York and Geneva and the UN Division on this important achievement.

Without naming any, he added that influential and important countries also backed Pakistan in the Council.

He said that this shows Pakistan’s performance in the Council over the last three years, adding that “the world is recognizing Pakistan’s role today”.

Qureshi also congratulated the entire nation on the re-representation of Pakistan in the UN Human Rights Council by a clear majority.

He asserted that the issue of human rights was also of special importance to Pakistan because the government had done a lot in this regard in the country.

On the other hand, he added that Pakistan was deeply concerned about the serious human rights violations in the Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK).

He said that Kashmiris’ voice was being suppressed, all means of communication were blocked, and neutral observers were not being given access to the occupied valley.

In these circumstances, he added that the UNHRC was an effective forum for oppressed Kashmiris to raise their voice.

After getting representation in the UN Human Rights Council, he said that Pakistan had four main priorities; Kashmir issue being number one priority and secondly raising voice against the growing trend of Islamophobia.

Through this forum, he added that Pakistan, being an important country of the Muslim Ummah, can raise its voice regarding the issues facing the Muslim majority countries.

He said that Pakistan’s next priority was human rights on which a lot of work had already been done within the country and “through this forum, we will also have a unique opportunity to expose human rights violations in India”.

“We want to send a clear message to the defenceless Kashmiris today from this platform that we will not allow your voice to be silenced and stand by you morally, politically and diplomatically in your ongoing peaceful struggle for the right to self-determination,” Qureshi added.

Earlier, Pakistan was re-elected to the United Nations Human Rights Council (HRC) with an overwhelming majority securing 169 votes in the 193-member UN General Assembly.

Elections were held in New York earlier on Tuesday late, Pakistan’s time.

Among the five candidates from the Asia-Pacific region vying for four seats, Pakistan secured the highest number of votes.

Pakistan is currently serving on the UNHRC since 1 January 2018.

With its re-election, Pakistan will continue as a member for another three-year term commencing on 1 January 2021.

Since the UNHRC’s establishment in 2006, this is the fifth time that Pakistan has been elected to the United Nations’ premier body on human rights.

”The international community has once again reposed confidence in Pakistan, recognizing our contribution to the national and global human rights agenda and strong credentials as a consensus builder in the UNHRC,” Foreign Office spokesperson Zahid Hafeez Chaudhri said.

He said that Pakistan remained firmly committed to upholding, promoting and safeguarding human rights and fundamental freedoms for all.

He said that Pakistan would sustain its efforts towards ensuring that the UNHRC’s work was guided by the principles of universality, impartiality, dialogue, and cooperation.

In line with Pakistan’s commitment, we will prioritise advancement of tolerance, respect and constructive engagement in the UNHRC, he added.

The HRC has been a prominent forum for discussing the gross and systematic human rights abuses being perpetrated in the IIOJK.

The human rights violations committed with impunity by the Indian occupation forces in the IIOJK have been extensively documented in the various reports of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, and the independent Special Procedure Mandate Holders. “Pakistan will remain actively engaged with the Council as well as its related processes to continue to highlight the plight of Kashmiris and other oppressed people all over the world,” Chaudhri said.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2020