Pakistan says plight of Rohingyas ‘worrisome’

Urges Myanmar to take steps for restoring stability in Rakhine State

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Tuesday expressed deep concern at the plight of Rohingya Muslims, who are adrift on boats in the India Ocean without access to food and drinking water.

“The Government of Pakistan has been consistently expressing deep concern at the plight of minority Muslim community in Myanmar.

“The current displacement of a large number of Muslims, who are adrift on boats in the Indian Ocean, without access to food and drinking water, is worrisome,” said the foreign ministry in a statement.

The foreign office pointed out that at the session of Human Rights Council in March, Pakistan – in its capacity as Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Group Coordinator for Human Rights and Humanitarian Issues in UN, Geneva – stressed the need for Myanmar government to grant citizenship and other rights to Rohingya Muslims.

“Pakistan is also supporting an OIC resolution titled, ‘The Situation of the Muslim Community in Myanmar’, which will be presented to the Council of Foreign Ministers on May 27-28 in Kuwait,” it added.

Pakistan also urged the authorities of Myanmar to take all necessary measures to restore stability and launch a comprehensive reconciliation process in Rakhine State.

“The Adviser to the Prime Minister on National Security and Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz addressed a letter to the OIC Secretary General on May 20, urging the Council of Foreign Ministers to take all necessary measures during the forthcoming Council of Foreign Ministers in Kuwait, for the rescue and rehabilitation of displaced Rohingya Muslims,” it said. The foreign office said Sartaj will also be taking up the issue with the OIC ministers during the Council of Foreign Ministers’ session so as to evolve a common position among the member states.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 27^th, 2015.