ISTANBUL: Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi on Tuesday arrived in Turkey to attend the extraordinary summit of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) on Al-Quds Al-Sharif (Jerusalem) on the invitation of the president of Turkey.
The prime minister will lead the Pakistani delegation in the session summoned to devise the future strategy in wake of the US move regarding Jerusalem.
According to a press release issued by the PM Office’s media wing, Foreign Minister Khawaja Asif and Punjab Chief Minister Shehbaz Sharif are accompanying the prime minister.
The prime minister and his delegation, upon arrival at the Istanbul International Airport, were received by senior officials of the Turkish government, Pakistan’s Ambassador to Turkey Syrus Sajjad Qazi and other senior embassy officials.
The extraordinary summit being convened on Wednesday has been called by the president of Turkey in his capacity as the chair of the OIC. Heads of state and government of about 26 Islamic countries are expected to attend the extraordinary summit and would also explore ways to deal with the situation.
The conference will be preceded by the Council of Foreign Ministers Meeting which will be attended by Foreign Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif.
Prime Minister Abbasi will convey the sentiments of the people and the government of Pakistan of the unequivocal support to the people of Palestine. He will also stress upon the OIC for a united stance on the issue of Al-Quds Al-Sharif and call upon the US administration to review its decision.
Earlier this month, US President Donald Trump recognised the disputed city as Israel’s capital — a historic decision that overturns decades of American policy and risks triggering a fresh wave of violence in the Middle East.
Pakistan strongly condemned US President Donald Trump’s move to recognize Jerusalem as the Israeli capital, voicing its concern “over the implications of this decision for international peace and security, especially in the Middle East”, according to a Foreign Office statement.
A statement from the Prime Minister Office had stated that it is “deeply regrettable that pleas from states across the globe not to alter the legal and historical status of Al-Quds Al-Sharif have been ignored, more out of choice than necessity.” Pakistan had also welcomed the announcement by Turkey to convene an extraordinary Islamic Summit to discuss this serious issue.
