PM laments world silence on Gaza

Shehbaz welcomes Palestinian students to their 'second home'

ISLAMABAD:

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday lamented world's silence on the genocide of Palestinians.

He was speaking at a ceremony to welcome a batch of Palestinian students, who arrived here to finish their medical education.

The PM assured them of every possible facility in their 'second home' Pakistan.

Addressing students from the war-torn Gaza, the prime minister said that a batch of 'shining and outstanding students', have now arrived in their second home.

He said the ongoing massacre of Palestinians was known to the entire world.

"It is heart-wrenching to watch brutalities and atrocities committed by the Israeli occupation forces on a daily basis. They have killed more than 43,000 Palestinians while thousands had been maimed and injured," he added.

The prime minister said that cities after cities had been demolished, buildings razed to the ground and the international community had yet to act, and regretted, "Speeches, resolutions and commitments have yet to see the light of day. Whether these were UNSC resolutions or ICJ's verdict at The Hague, nothing has helped bring about ceasefire in Gaza, where the world has not seen such carnage in contemporary history."

The prime minister recollected that during his participation in the United Nations General Assembly session, they heard speeches after speeches of the world leaders about the plight of the Palestinians and how Israeli forces had been committing genocide in this part of the world, but the blood continued to spill on the streets of Gaza, hospitals were destroyed, schools bombarded, while the world stood as a mere spectator.

The prime minister referred to the international community's interference to bring about peace in different parts of the world, including Sudan and Bosnia.

In Bosnia, he said, cries were finally heard after a large number of Muslim population was martyred there. Mass graves were unearthed, and finally, the global community came to a realization.

Prime Minister Sharif regretted the double standards in a world where the powerful and mighty remained unchecked.

He said the Palestinian people gave inspiration to the entire world who were facing challenges and where every family was suffering.

The prime minister also referred to a recent footage of two minor Palestinian sisters struggling together and said it had touched every heart 'but not touched those who matter- to take decision and save the people of Gaza, Palestine and Lebanon."

He shared his sincere sympathies with the people of Palestine, on behalf of himself, the government and the people of Pakistan. He said that the government of Pakistan would take all possible measures to extend all kind of facilities to the students during their stay.

The prime minister said that it was not just a gathering of the students but of a family.

He also thanked all stakeholders under Gaza Health Outreach programme, including Al Khidmat Foundation.

The prime minister said that they would welcome other Palestinian students on their soil and in this regard, he had already issued directives to the relevant authorities.

He reassured that the cost of their education would be borne by the government.

Earlier, speaking on the occasion, PM's Coordinator on Health Dr Malik Mukhtar Ahmad Bharath said that a total of 145 students had arrived Pakistan from Gaza who were admitted to various medical and dental facilities in Islamabad and Lahore.

President Pakistan Medical and Dental Council Dr Rizwan Taj said that after receiving directive from the prime minister on July 10, they made arrangements in collaboration with all the stakeholders to facilitate Palestinian students to get quality education in Pakistan.

A total of 24 students were enrolled in Lahore and the rest of 121 in Islamabad who were now getting medical education, he added.

He said that the medical institutions were not charging any fee from Palestinian students.

Two female students from Gaza expressed their gratitude to the government for facilitating their studies in Pakistan.