PM at UNGA

As the discussion ranges from Kashmir, the pandemic, economic relief for developing world and growing Islamophobia

Prime Minister Imran Khan had his second address at the United Nations General Assembly on Friday. It was a virtual address as the ongoing 75^th session of the UNGA has been unprecedented in that the world leaders did not make an in-person attendance or have face-to-face meetings due to the Covid-19 pandemic that is rampaging across the world — more intensely in the US, India, Brazil, Russia and several European countries — and has infected more than 3.2 million people worldwide besides killing nearly one million others. So like leaders from other countries, PM Imran also sent a recorded video statement which was introduced by a Pakistani envoy there and then played in the UNGA Hall ‘as live’.

The issues the PM discussed this time around included the Modi government’s aggression in occupied Kashmir as well as against minorities in India itself; Covid-19 pandemic and Pakistan’s successful response; growing Islamophobia, especially amid the pandemic; the need for economic relief for poor countries particularly affected by the pandemic; money-laundering and corruption by the elite in developing countries; dangers of climate change; and illegal Israeli occupation of Palestinian land. The PM was, however, particularly hard-hitting when discussing India’s fundamentalist policies as well as its continued oppression against the Kashmiri civilians.

Like in his maiden address at the UNGA, PM Imran directly hit the Indian leadership as well as the RSS’s “Nazi-like ideology” to seek “racial purity”. Expressing concern at the growing hatred against Muslims in India, he said it is “the one country in the world where the state sponsors Islamophobia”. In what constitute very unique and just demands, he called for universally outlawing “wilful provocations and incitement to hate and violence” and said that the UNGA should “declare an international day to combat Islamophobia”. A true Ambassador of Kashmir, the premier once again forcefully presented the case of a people under forced occupation and subjected to gross human rights violations.

In an apt conclusion, the PM urged the UN to be “fully responsive to the challenges of our times”, insisting that “a comprehensive reform of the United Nations, including the Security Council, is essential to promote greater democracy, accountability, transparency and efficiency”.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 27^th, 2020.

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