PM hails OIC’s support for Kashmiris’ right to self-determination
ISLAMABAD Jan 11 (APP): Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani on Tuesday appreciated OIC constant support for Kashmiri people’s right of self-determination in accordance with the relevant UN resolutions. The implementation of OIC resolutions on Kashmir, the Prime Minister hoped will help in mitigating the plight of Kashmiri people in Indian Held Kashmir. He expressed the hope that OIC’s Special Representative on Jammu and Kashmir will soon visit Azad Kashmir to express the solidarity on behalf of OIC with Kashmiri people.
The Prime Minister was talking to Dr. Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu, Secretary General OIC in a meeting here on Tuesday.
The Prime Minister thanked the Secretary General for undertaking the project of construction of 600 houses in six separate model villages for Pakistan’s flood victims under OIC.
He assured the Secretary General of the government of Pakistan’s complete support for his initiative to form an Emergency Response Fund to help the member countries in case of natural calamities.
Referring to the forthcoming OIC Summit in Egypt in April this year, the Prime Minister also assured  the government of Pakistan support for approving Science and Technology Innovation Organization Charter and establishment of OIC Women Organisation based in Cairo.
The Prime Minister while referring to the proposal of hosting International Contact Group meeting in Jeddah, stressed that government of Pakistan must be consulted in this regard, as Pakistan does not accept the Af-Pak phraseology and the meeting if held should only discuss Afghanistan and not Pakistan.
He appreciated the OIC efforts in promoting tolerance and harmony among various cultures and religions and in countering the Islamophobia in Western countries.
He also called upon en-block support of OIC member states for the passage of resolutions in UNGA on Defamation of Religions every year.
The OIC Secretary General thanked the Prime Minister for government of Pakistan’s complete support to OIC and for Pakistan’s vital role in furthering the Muslim causes around the world.
He termed institutionalization of Islamophobia in the Western countries as a major challenge, as it was becoming the political agenda in some countries. He called for political support of all the member states to OIC for reversing their negative trend.
The Secretary General termed Pakistan as the founder and one of the most important and proactive member states of OIC which has always taken the lead role in assisting the Muslim world and promoting their causes.
He assured the Prime Minister that OIC Secretariat is mindful of any particular concern that Pakistan might have at International Contact Group’s meeting and it will not allow anything to hamper Pakistan’s interest.
He also informed the Prime Minister that his special representative on Jammu and Kashmir will visit AJK and Pakistan before the next OIC Summit scheduled for April this year.
Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Nawabzada Malik Amad Khan and senior officials were present in the meeting.