ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif on Friday welcomed the decision of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) on a petition filed against genocide in Palestine.
The prime minister paid tributes to the courage of the 13 ICJ judges who made the decision and thanked South Africa for filing the petition.
In a statement, he reiterated Pakistan’s support for the Palestinians and pledged to continue fighting for their rights. He said Pakistan had extended support to the petition filed by South Africa.
The prime minister called upon the United Nations Security Council and the international community to immediately implement the International Court’s decision to stop the Israeli operation in Gaza.
He also urged the international community to ensure the provision of humanitarian aid and relief to the people of Palestine, besides providing immediate access to the United Nations investigation commission to Gaza and Rafah.
Pakistan would continue to play its role in protecting the basic human and legal rights of the Palestinian people, the prime minister assured.
PM lauds Ireland’s decision to recognize Palestine as independent state
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif praised the Government of Ireland’s recent decision to recognize Palestine as an independent state.
The prime minister, during a telephonic conversation with his Irish counterpart Simon Harris, felicitated him on his assumption of office and remarked that his youth and dynamism would bring major changes in Ireland.
He said Ireland’s decision would send a message of hope and solidarity to the innocent Palestinians who were suffering Israel’s brutal atrocities. “It would also go a long way in promoting the Palestine cause and would urge other countries to follow Ireland.”
The prime minister added that Pakistan had always advocated that a two-state solution, in accordance with the relevant UN resolutions, was the only way to bring lasting peace to the Middle East.
He reaffirmed Pakistan’s strong commitment to the just struggle of the Palestinian people and lauded the decision of the International Court of Justice to order Israel to stop its assault on Gaza and Rafah.
He also expressed the hope that the oppressed people of Kashmir would receive similar attention from the international community, as they too had been enduring a brutal occupation and denial of fundamental human rights for the last seven decades.
Prime Minister Simon Harris said that Ireland had taken a principled decision in consultation with other European allies because the extent of Israel’s military action in Gaza could no longer be condoned in any way. The Ireland felt that the decision was necessary to promote normalization in the occupied territories.
The two leaders exchanged views on bilateral ties between Pakistan and Ireland, and expressed their common desire to strengthen cooperation in areas of mutual interest.
The prime minister lauded the Irish decision to open its resident mission in Pakistan and said that the new mission, along with Pakistan’s mission in Dublin, would play a vital role in promoting bilateral trade, investment and people-to-people exchanges.
He also extended a cordial invitation to Prime Minister Simon Harris to undertake an official visit to Pakistan.
