Pakistan's re-election to UNHRC an important diplomatic achievement: Qureshi

Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi termed on Wednesday Pakistan's re-election to the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) as an important diplomatic achievement.

Among the five candidates from the Asia-Pacific region vying for four seats, Pakistan secured 169 votes in the 193-member UN General Assembly elections that were held in New York on Tuesday.

The foreign minister said that Pakistan was supported by every region in its election to the UNHRC. "Influential and important countries also backed Pakistan," he added.

“I thank all the countries for their support,” FM Qureshi said. “This vote also highlights our three-year performance in the Human Rights Council. Pakistan’s role is valued by the world. I congratulate the entire action,” the foreign minister stated.

He said that Prime Minister Imran Khan wrote letters to heads of different countries to seek their support in these elections, whereas he [Qureshi], being the foreign minister, also contacted his counterparts of various countries.

Qureshi also congratulated the UN division and the Geneva team on Pakistan’s re-election.

Talking about human rights violations in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK), FM Qureshi stressed that they were on the rise, and becoming a part of the council at a critical time such as this was a great achievement.

Since the HRC’s establishment in 2006, this was the fifth time that Pakistan had been elected to the United Nations’ premier body on human rights.

Pakistan is currently serving on the HRC since January 1, 2018. With its re-election, Pakistan would continue as a member for another three-year term commencing January 1, 2021, according to a statement issued by the Foreign Office on October 13.

The communique added that the international community had once again reposed confidence in Pakistan, recognising its contribution to the national and global human rights agenda and strong credentials as a consensus builder in the HRC.