Four nations thanked for skipping G20 moot

ISLAMABAD (APP): Pakistan Ulema Council Chairman and Prime Minister’s Special Representative on Interfaith Harmony and Middle East Hafiz Muhammad Tahir Mahmood Ashrafi on Monday expressed his appreciation to China, Saudi Arabia, Turkiye and Egypt for their decision to refrain from attending the G20 meeting in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK).

Addressing a press conference, he said IIOJK was an internationally recognized disputed territory between Pakistan and India and it was on the agenda of the United Nations Security Council for over seven decades.

He said India was responsible for widespread atrocities and egregious human rights violations in the IIOJK adding that contemplating the holding of any G20-related meeting or event there, in utter disregard of the globally acknowledged disputed status of the territory, was a travesty that the international community could not accept under any circumstances.

He added that today a complete strike took place in IIOJK and Azad Kashmir to condemn this illegal move of the fascist Indian government giving a clear-cut expression of that India had nothing to do with the people and the territory of occupied Kashmir.

He urged other G20 countries to boycott such an event if any in future to be held in internationally disputed territory.

Ashrafi said India was trying to organize another event of R20 in the wake of interfaith harmony to portray its soft image in the comity of nations but Muslims and the people of other faiths had completely denied to participate in any event in IIOJK.

He said India must end its gross and systematic violations of human rights in IIOJK, revoke its illegal and unilateral actions of 5 August 2019, and free all political prisoners including the true Kashmiri leaders for a peaceful and meaningful dialogue between the two countries.

On the tragedy of May 9 called as Black Day, Ashrafi on behalf of all Ulema and Mashaykh urged the superior judiciary to expedite the trials of those people involved in heinous crimes of setting ablaze the Corps Commander House, Lahore and Radio Pakistan, Peshawar and attack on General Headquarters in the anti-terrorist courts.

He further said those who destroyed the national security forces installations, their cases should be tried in the military courts under Army Act as it was in accordance with the law and Constitution adding that nobody should create any kind of hurdle in this way.

To a query, he was of the view that those guilty must be punished and the innocent must be released.

Ashrafi said in the 75-year history, it was the first attack on the sovereignty of Pakistan on the pattern of 9/11 and those who were masterminds, facilitators, culprits and accomplices must be brought to justice through all possible means.

He said this coming Friday would be observed as ‘Stability Day’ by the Ulema and Mashaykh of all schools of thought under the umbrella of Pakistan Ulema Council to express solidarity with the national security institutions.