FM Shah Mehmood Qureshi. PHOTO: AFP
Addressing a press conference in Islamabad on Sunday, the foreign minister said, “The Indian soldiers have a free hand to commit mass murder. First they used to resort to aerial firing to disperse protesters, but now they are shooting straight.”
Qureshi said, “Over 500 casualties have occurred in 2018. In November, 18 unarmed Kashmiris were killed.”
Qureshi requested international human rights organisations to focus on the Kashmir issue.
He apprised the media about letters sent to the United Nations Secretary General, UN Human Rights Commissioner and Secretary General Organisation of Islamic Cooperation.
“I have asked them to intervene so that people are relieved from this barbarism,” he said, adding that he had also requested all Pakistani missions abroad to ask countries to take immediate measures.
“I have also asked to organise an immediate Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) meeting. We are ready to host it here in Islamabad or we can also go to Jeddah if the meeting is held there,” he added.
He further said that the OIC has asked Islamabad to write a formal written request.
“We have decided that our consulate in Jeddah will give them the formal request for the OIC meeting,” he said, adding that he had presented his recommendations before the Senate committee and planned on organising an international conference in London on February 5 to drive world’s attention towards the issue.
He further stated that the EU and its parliament had decided to have a public hearing over the issue of atrocities on February 19 next year. Pakistan will be part of the hearing.
During the addresses, the foreign minister demanded that all political forces in Kashmir unify for the cause as “they are the most important party to the dispute”.
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