The Foreign Office (FO) of Pakistan dismissed Israel’s recent critique regarding the state of human rights in Pakistan as ‘politically motivated’.
The statement came in response to comments made by Israel during a United Nations (UN) session. FO Spokesperson, Mumtaz Zahra Baloch, countered that Pakistan’s Universal Periodic Report, which reviews the human rights records of UN member states, had been adopted unanimously in a UN Human Rights Council session.
Furthermore, Baloch stated that several states and civil society organisations commended Pakistan on the progress made in promoting human rights. The FO spokesperson observed that Israel’s statement was inconsistent with the otherwise positive tone of the session and the statements made by most states.
Sherry Rehman Links Israel’s Criticism with PTI
In a sharp critique following the UN session, Sherry Rehman, Minister of Climate Change of Pakistan, connected Israel’s statement and the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI). She suggested that the perceived alliance between PTI and Israel has been unveiled.
In a press conference alongside the Special Assistant to the Prime Minister (SAPM) Ata Tarar, Rehman revealed that those benefiting from the May 9 violence had been exposed. The Minister pointed fingers at the PTI chairman, labelling him an Israeli agent. She asserted that anti-state elements were voicing their support for the PTI chief and that Israel, despite its record on human rights, was openly endorsing PTI.
Rehman strongly condemned Israel’s criticism of Pakistan in favour of PTI at the UN meeting. She claimed that Imran Niazi, the PTI leader, is part of a faction that infringes upon the rights of Palestinians. She also noted that Israel had failed to comment on the arrest and indictment of those involved in the Capitol Hill attack.
