ISLAMABAD: Senate Chairman Mian Raza Rabbani Wednesday called for unity in the Muslim Ummah to deal with emerging challenges, especially the one coming forth through a nexus formed among the United States, Israel and India.
“There is a changing world scenario in which a nexus among the US, Israel and India is emerging and the Ummah needs unity to deal with this,” he said addressing the 13th session of Parliamentary Union of Islamic Countries (PUIC) being held in Tehran.
Raza Rabbani is leading a delegation of senators to participate in the session of PUIC on invitation of the Speaker of Iranian Majlis-e-Shora, according to a message received here from Iran.
He said Pakistan strongly opposed the US attempt to alter legal and historical status of Al Quds Al Sharif, which was a blatant violation of international law and the UN Security Council resolutions, particularly the UNSCR 478. “Co-sponsoring of the UN resolution on the Palestine issue has brought US pressure on Muslim Ummah and the Muslim world should realize it.”
Raza Rabbani said Pakistan condemned the decision to derail the Middle East peace process in an already volatile and strife-stricken region. “This move not only defies the rule of law and international norms, but also reinforces the hegemonic and belligerent ‘might is right’ policies in international politics.”
He said a reflection of duplicitous policy approach was already being witnessed in Asia and elsewhere in the shape of forced regime changes through undemocratic means.
He cautioned that success of the international campaign against terrorism would be undermined by such regressive moves that only served to perpetuate and deepen frustration and anger among the affected populations.
Rabbani said,"Pakistan fully supports Palestinians’ demand for an independent state with Al-Quds as its capital and the Parliament of Pakistan has also consistently and unequivocally supported the just cause of the Palestinian people."
The Senate and the National Assembly, he said, in their respective sittings in August 2014, passed separate resolutions expressing strong support for the Palestinian cause and to condemn Israeli atrocities and genocide in Gaza recently.
He, however, underscored the need to make both the OIC and PUIC more vibrant and proactive in responding to challenges as well as other needs of the Muslim world today. “We must resolve and rise above divisive conflicts be it sectarian, ideological or communal.”
He underscored enhancement of multi-stratum cooperation in areas such as economy, trade, infrastructure, investment, education, health, science and technology, agriculture, energy and defense to name but a few .
Rabbani said that twin issues of economy and security posed a grave threat to peace and harmony of the entire Muslim Ummah and increased security and defence cooperation between the PUIC countries was key to remove the roadblocks to progress and prosperity that terrorism poses.
Pakistan, he said, had borne the brunt of the war on terror for over one and a half decade and thousands of Pakistanis, military personnel as well as civilians had lost their lives and almost as many had been maimed and wounded. It would continue to play a proactive role against this tide of extremism and anarchy, he added.
Rabbani called for collective efforts to root out the menace of terrorism so a handful of extremists and transnational terrorists could not malign Islam for their vested interests. “We need to promote true image and message of Islam as a religion of peace, tolerance and respect for human dignity, rights and freedoms and PUIC as an institutional voice of elected representatives of the Muslim world can play an important role.”
He said shared ideals concerning peace, development and democracy could be realized through joining hands in an atmosphere of mutual trust, cooperation and respect.
“Together, we have a better chance to address and neutralize injustices and oppressions being faced by the Muslim world due to dual standards and unequal human rights approach of the western world,” he stated.
Raza Rabbani urged to fully exploiting huge potential of Muslim world for its progress as it faced challenges of war, poor healthcare, poverty and violations of human rights, illiteracy, lack of progress and political transparency, ethnic conflict, and regional divisions.
He also mentioned to atrocities being perpetrated against Muslims in Palestine, Kashmir, Burma and elsewhere, as well as the seething unrest and violence in Afghanistan, Syria and Iraq and described it a matter of grave concern and a collective challenge.
He termed the PUIC a step forward for increased mutually-beneficial integration within the Muslim world as it envisaged the “strengthening of contacts, cooperation and coordination between the various Muslim countries’ parliamentary, governmental and non-governmental organizations, with the aim of advancing common objectives.”
Rabbani wished the organizers success for the conference, which, he hoped, might significantly contribute towards further strengthening of ties between all the Muslim countries and finding solutions to common challenges.
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