ISLAMABAD: National Assem­bly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq has urged lawmakers from around the world to play their role in stopping the “violence and bloodshed” taking place in Gaza.

He made these remarks while addressing the 45th Annual Forum of Parliamentarians for Global Action (PGA) and the 13th Consul­tative Assembly of Parliamen­ta­rians on the International Criminal Court and Rule of Law, which started in Islamabad on Monday.

“It’s our job to improve the lives of our constituents. It’s our responsibility to raise our voices against violence and bloodshed like the one taking place in Gaza to stop it,” he said while addressing more than 60 parliamentarians from around the world who were attending the event in person and online.

He strongly condemned the ongoing Israeli brutality and aggression against Palestinians and stressed the “pressing need” to raise voices against these atrocities in Palestine and the Kashmir dispute.

Sherry Rehman says Palestine, Kashmir crises ‘undermine’ multilateral order

Humanitarian issues, Mr Sadiq said, were “piling” and wars and violence were exacerbating human miseries.

“It’s our collective responsibility and of all member delegates to fully utilise this forum to devise effective strategies.”

Responsibility towards constituents

Mr Sadiq reminded the lawmakers that their responsibility was not restricted to legislation only, but also to resolve myriads of challenges faced by their constituents.

He said every parliamentarian in Pakistan had around one million constituents facing multiple challenges like access to clean drinking water, sanitation and stunting.

“Our responsibilities extend to addressing the pressing issues facing our constituents—access to cle­an drinking water and sanitation.”

Political discourse

PGA Pakistan chairperson Sena­tor Sherry Rehman also undersco­red the need for joint efforts to promote world peace and uphold the rule of law.

“The promotion of global justice is a collective responsibility, and parliamentarians must adopt a common plan to end conflicts,” she asserted.

The senator also highlighted Pakistan’s leadership in supporting human rights and climate action, calling for a robust follow-up on commitments made at the upcoming COP29 conference.

Ms Rehman emphasised the critical role of PGA over the past four decades in promoting global justice, strengthening democracy, and addressing development challenges.

She noted that the multilateral world order, established post-World War II to ensure global peace, is facing severe tests.

“War crimes, genocide, and economic inequality have intensified, creating sharp divides and exclusionary pyramids of privilege, while climate change threatens the resources essential to our survival.”

Senator Rehman asserted that the rise in conflicts and impunity for war crimes, including the situations in Palestine and Kashmir, “undermine the legitimacy of the multilateral order and challenge the universal principles”.

She called for a renewed commitment to universal laws, especially climate justice and economic equality.

Reflecting on PGA’s mission, Ms Rehman praised the organisation’s legacy of fostering dialogue and collaboration among global leaders.

“This forum promotes an environment of plurality, where diverse voices from across the world contribute to constructive debate,” she said, emphasising the need for leaders to bridge divides between national and international stakeholders, including parliamentarians and civil society.

Senator Rehman also addressed the limitations of the International Criminal Court (ICC), stating that “despite its establishment to hold accountable those accused of war crimes and genocide, the ICC has struggled to gain universal acceptance due to concerns over impartiality and selective enforcement.”

She underscored the need for global legal mechanisms that respect the territorial integrity of states while remaining independent of geopolitical influences.

Ms Rehman further called for “a new global political discourse to tackle these issues,” noting that double standards and politicisation must be eliminated for a genuinely universal system of accountability to take root.

The PGA secretary-general, Mo­­nica Adame, commended Pakistan’s hospitality and highlighted the or­­g­anisation’s role as a cross-border net­­work advocating for human rights, democracy, and climate justice.

“Our collective efforts must focus on ensuring that our constituents’ rights are upheld and that we engage in meaningful bilateral dialogue to address violence and human rights violations,” she said.

Published in Dawn, October 29th, 2024