ISLAMABAD, JAN 22 /DNA/ : Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Dr Tariq Fazal Chaudhry told the National Assembly on Thursday that Pakistan’s decision to join the Board of Peace was guided by national interest and the collective priorities of the Muslim Ummah, not political considerations.
Responding to a point of order raised by MNA Gohar Ali Khan, he said the move was taken in the interest of the Palestinian people, reaffirming Pakistan’s principled stance on the Palestine issue which it has consistently highlighted at international forums.
He noted that UN Security Council resolutions called for a permanent ceasefire and reconstruction of Gaza, adding that Pakistan’s participation in the Board of Peace aimed to support these efforts while safeguarding both Palestinian and national interests.
Dr Tariq stressed that the matter should not be reduced to political point-scoring, urging unity and consensus in the House.
The minister said the situation in Palestine, especially the atrocities committed against innocent and defenceless civilians in Gaza, had not only shaken the Islamic world but had also sparked protests across the globe, with people from different religions and schools of thought coming out in large numbers to condemn the Israeli actions.
He said Pakistan had always raised its voice against oppression in Palestine and Kashmir, warning that the unresolved Kashmir dispute remained a nuclear flashpoint.
