ISLAMABAD: Senator Mushahid Hussain Syed has urged Muslim countries like Pakistan, Malaysia and Jordan to support South Africa in the International Court of Justice (ICJ).

Last month, South Africa had filed a genocide case against Israel before the ICJ.

Senator Mushahid was speaking at a seminar on ‘US policies on Palestine and Kashmir’ at the Area Study Centre, Quaid-i-Azam University (QAU), on Wednesday.

He also suggested that Turkey and Pakistan take the initiative of sending a food flotilla under the UN umbrella for the Palestinians.

The senator said even before the independence of Pakistan, Quaid-i-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah clearly adopted the policy of support towards Kashmir and Palestine.

He also criticised the US for supporting Israel, adding that Palestinians and Kashmiris were struggling against tyranny.

Special Assistant to the Prime Minister (SAPM) on Human Rights and Women Empowerment Mushaal Hussein Mullick said the Jewish state had changed the demography of Palestinians just like India had done in occupied Kashmir.

She said many dialogues and accords had failed to resolve the problems of Palestinians and Kashmiris, stressing on the need for unity to achieve these targets.

Iranian Ambassador Dr Reza Amiri Moghadam paid homage to the Palestinian martyrs and appreciated the people of Pakistan for their unending support to the Palestinian people.

He reiterated his country’s support for the Palestinian people for the struggle of independence and demanded the United Nations for right to self determination for the people of Palestine.

Deputy Head of Palestine in Pakistan Nader Al-Turk said Americans had been supporting Israel and providing them with arms and other means of aid.

He said a large number of civilians, including women and children, had been martyred by Israel, and despite all of this, the US was stating that Israel was not targeting civilians.

Palestinian journalist Jalal Al Fara shared the plight of Palestine people, stating that around 100 of his own family members and relatives had been martyred in Israeli attacks.

He strongly criticised the role of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), stating that this organisation was not even able to provide food and water.

Retired ambassador Sarwar Naqvi said western governments were silent on Israeli genocide of Palestinians and urged the Arab and Muslim states to support the struggling people of Palestine.

Ambassador Naila Chauhan also criticised Indian and Israeli governments for killing civilians in Kashmir and Palestine. Kashmiri leader Hamid Loon, Dean Social Sciences QAU Dr Mohammad Idrees and Dr Mubeen Shah also spoke on the occasion.

Published in Dawn, January 11th, 2024