Saudi Gazette
JEDDAH — Pakistan Consulate Jeddah and the OIC jointly organized a seminar and photo exhibition on Kashmir at the OIC Secretariat on Monday.
While presiding over the event, Dr. Yousaf Bin Ahmed Al-Othaimeen, OIC Secretary General, reiterated OIC’s full support to the people of Kashmir in their legitimate struggle for the fundamental right to self-determination.
This was the second consecutive year that the secretary general of OIC has presided over the seminar. The secretary general called on the Indian government to stop using force against the Kashmiri people.
He said that the issue of Jammu and Kashmir has been one of the most important preoccupations of OIC over three decades. He condemned human rights violations of the Kashmiri people perpetrated by India.
He recalled his recent meeting with the prime minister of Pakistan in which Kashmir was the first issue discussed between the two and he had assured Prime Minister Imran Khan of OIC’s unflinching support on the Kashmir issue.
In his welcome speech, Consul General Shehryar Akbar Khan said that Kashmir Black Day event was organized to mark the illegal entry of Indian force into occupied Jammu and Kashmir in 1947.
The Consul General thanked the OIC, Saudi Arabia and the member states and the international community for supporting the cause of the people of Kashmir in their legitimate struggle against foreign occupation. He said that the government of Pakistan would continue to extend all moral, political and diplomatic support to the Kashmiri people in their historic struggle.
He highlighted the plight of the people of Kashmir under foreign occupation and urged the international community to persuade India to end human rights violations and support the UN Report’s recommendation to constitute a Commission of Inquiry (COI) to investigate the human rights violations in Indian occupied Jammu & Kashmir.
Ghulam Muhammad Safi, True Representative of Kashmiri People, briefed the audience about prevailing situation and continued human rights violations in the Indian occupied Kashmir. He called on the international community and the OIC in particular to play its role so that Kashmiri people can exercise their inherent right of self-determination.
Members of the Kashmir Committee Jeddah presented a resolution to the OIC Secretary General, calling on the group to redouble its efforts to resolve the Kashmir issue.
The photo exhibition and seminar on Indian occupied Kashmir at the OIC Secretariat has become an annual feature for the past five years. The event was well attended by high level OIC officials including Ambassador Abdullah Al-Alim, OIC’s Secretary General’s Special Representative on Jammu and Kashmir, Saudi officials, members of Diplomatic Corps, local dignitaries and representatives of Pakistan community.
The Consulate also organized other events to commemorate Kashmir Black Day at the residence of consul general of Pakistan.
Mrs. Fouzia Fayyaz Ahmed, consular, conducted the proceeding which started with the recitation of verses from the Holy Qur’an by Hafiz Khalil-ur-Rehman. Distinguished members from Pakistani and Saudi community attended.
Askar Mussinov, assistant secretary general OIC, addressed the gathering on behalf of OIC secretary general. Ghulam Mohammed Safi, Masood Ahmed Puri and Consul General Shehryar Akbar also spoke in the commemoration event.
