PM heads to Qatar for Emergency Arab-Islamic Summit on Palestine
Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani receives Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in Doha during his recent visit. Photo: AFPQatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani receives Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in Doha during his recent visit. Photo: AFP/ File
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif will leave for Qatar on September 15 to attend the Emergency Arab-Islamic Summit in Doha. A Foreign Office (FO) statement said on Saturday.
The summit, co-sponsored by Pakistan, has been called in response to recent Israeli airstrikes on Doha and alarmingly deteriorating situation in Palestine and escalating Israeli aggression in Gaza and the West Bank.
According to the FO statement, the summit will bring together leaders and senior officials from the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) member states who will deliberate on the regional crisis and formulate a joint strategy.
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“The Summit reflects the urgency, felt across the Muslim world in light of the Israeli strikes and attempts to forcibly displace Palestinians,” said the FO.
A preparatory session of foreign ministers of state heads is scheduled for September 14 before the Summit. Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Ishaq Dar will represent Pakistan in the ministerial talks.
The FO further noted that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif visited Doha earlier on September 11, where he met the Qatari leadership and expressed Pakistan’s solidarity and support.
“Pakistan strongly condemns Israeli aggression against Qatar and other states in the region and reaffirms its commitment to regional peace, security, and the sovereignty of its partners,” the Foreign Office added.
Islamabad reiterated its firm stance on the Palestine issue and called for an immediate end to hostilities through dialogue.