Islamabad, 22 March 2022 (TDI): The Prime Minister of Pakistan, Imran Khan addressed the opening of the 48th Session of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation Council of Foreign Ministers, today.
Pakistan is hosting the 48th OIC CFM in its federal capital Islamabad today and tomorrow i.e on March 22nd and 23rd.
Address of the honorable Prime Minister
The Prime Minister of Pakistan Imran Khan started off his speech by praising Allah and reciting the verse of Surah-e-Fatiha. The verse that translates to :
“You (Allah) we worship, and your aid we seek”
Then he welcomed all the eminent dignitaries warmly to Pakistan. The meeting is being held at a time when “we are celebrating the 75th anniversary of our Independence”, he stated.
The people of Pakistan are overjoyed that the delegates are here, he added. He further wished the dignitaries that they may have a great stay in Pakistan.
International Day to Combat Islamophobia
The Prime Minister referred to the resolution adopted by UNGA to mark March 15 as the ‘International Day to Combat Islamophobia’. He congratulated the attendees for such a success of the OIC.
“Congratulations to the @OIC_OCI members for the @UN declaration of March 15 as ‘International Day to Combat Islamophobia’”
Prime Minister @ImranKhanPTI‘s address at 48th Session of the OIC Council of Foreign Ministers#PMIKatOIC#OICInPakistan #OIC48CFM pic.twitter.com/wcCtOQl1ho
— Prime Minister’s Office, Pakistan (@PakPMO) March 22, 2022
He then referred to why this particular date was chosen. On March 15 an armed man walked into a mosque and shot down around fifty innocent people just because he considered all the Muslims as terrorists. The event took place in New Zealand.
Imran Khan went further back in time and referred to 9/11, where this Islamophobia started and kept on growing. The association of Islam with terrorism was left unchecked and things got worse with time, he underscored.
As an international player and during his stay in England he witnessed this growing hatred, he added. The reason behind the growth was, the Prime Minister said,
“We, the Muslim countries did not do anything to check this wrong narrative”
He further stressed that no religion promotes extremism or terrorism. The heads of Muslim states must have done something concrete to combat this.
Instead, they kept saying they were “moderate” indicating that some form of extreme Islam exists, which is definitely not the case, he added. Imran Khan said,
“As a result there was this perception that there are different types of Islam .There is some radical Islam, there is some . moderate , liberal Islam. There is only one Islam. Islam of our Prophet Muhammed (صلى الله عليه وسلم). There is no other Islam”
Further, the Prime Minister stated that as a result of all the above Muslims especially ones in Western countries paid the price.
Coming towards the pain that Muslims feel when their Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) is insulted, Imran Khan again said that over this issue the Muslims again failed to explain the reason to the West as to why this hurts the sentiments.
He stated that in the West religion is not taken seriously. Hence an explanation was needed. The Muslim world again didn’t respond to the matter.
Now, finally, when steps have been taken, a day is now designated. Islamophobia’s existence has been acknowledged, which is a success.
Pakistan made in name of Islam – Muslim Welfare State
After talking about Islamophobia, Imran Khan talked about the characteristics of a Muslim Welfare State. He started off by saying that
“We (Pakistan) were the only country which became independent in the name of Islam”
By stating that Imran Khan shared his vision of making Pakistan an Islamic Welfare State as per the objectives for which this country was made.
He referred to the ideal State of Madinah and how any state can follow it, to become like it. Talking about Madinah he said :
“In the history of mankind, there was never a more just and humane state (than that of Madinah)”
Then he expressed his disappointment over the lack of knowledge regarding the just system that existed in the “modern state that our Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) created”. The characteristics of the state of Madinah that Imran Khan shed light on :
- He referred to Quran and said that Prophet Muhammed (صلى الله عليه وسلم) is called ‘Rehmat-ul-Lil-Alamin ‘ which translates to ‘Mercy for mankind” – Prime Minister underscored that Prophet Muhammed (صلى الله عليه وسلم) is not just mercy for Muslims but entire mankind.
- That implied he came to unite and not divide humankind. Muslims need to understand this, the purpose Prophet Muhammed (صلى الله عليه وسلم) came for, he stressed.
- The Rule of Law – Imran Khan then stressed how no one was above Law in Madinah. At this point, he referred to the very example of Prophet Muhammad (صلى الله عليه وسلم) when he (صلى الله عليه وسلم) said
“Even if my daughter comits a crime, she will be punished” – (saying of Prophet Muhammed صلى الله عليه وسلم)
Such was the law and justice in Madinah. We need to learn and implement this, the Prime Minister basically stressed. Building on the same point, Imran Khan further added that :
” The Developing world is poor, not because they lack resources , because they can not put the powerful criminals in jail”
In a nutshell, law and justice must prevail was his point.
“The basis of a civilized society is the Rule of Law”
Prime Minister @ImranKhanPTI‘s address at 48th Session of the OIC Council of Foreign Ministers#PMIKatOIC#OICInPakistan #OIC48CFM pic.twitter.com/lXDTQDTjFW
— Prime Minister’s Office, Pakistan (@PakPMO) March 22, 2022
- Minorities were equal citizens – At this point, Imran Khan referred to the fact that minorities were protected by justice and law in Madinah. They were included and not discriminated against, hence the society and the state were a welfare state.
Whichever community will adopt the characteristics of the Stae of Madinah, will prosper is what the Prime Minister highlighted.
Islamic values under threat
The Prime Minister then shed light on how the destruction of the family system, obscenity, divorce rates, etc. are rapidly growing in our societies.
Several reasons exist for this. One of the reasons that the Prime Minister highlighted is the unsupervised access of the internet and mobile phones to children and youth.
“We need to think of ways to protect our generations from the culture coming through social media,”
Prime Minister @ImranKhanPTI‘s address at 48th Session of the OIC Council of Foreign Ministers#PMIKatOIC#OICInPakistan #OIC48CFM pic.twitter.com/V3XlMKysw4
— Prime Minister’s Office, Pakistan (@PakPMO) March 22, 2022
He then said that on this forum a framework must be designed to combat this growing issue to save the generations. Since the issues adversely affect society. Imran Khan stated that to counter such issues
“I have formed a Pakistan Rehmatulil-alamin authority of scholars. The whole purpose is how we are going to give an alternate point of view to our children (an alternate to the obscenity that prevails online).”.
The Prime Minister has shared this concern so something concrete can become up with to combat the issue.
On Palestine, Kashmir & Ukraine
Lastly, Prime Minister talked about the humanitarian crisis that is going on in these three regions of Palestine, Kashmir, and the ongoing war in Ukraine. “We need to be more firm on issues of Palestine, Kashmir, and Afghanistan,” he stressed.
Lastly, he stated that the Muslim World must also think about how the war in Ukraine can be stopped. We must think about how we can put an end to the conflict there, he said. In the end, Prime Minister remarked
” Honourable Foreign Ministers let me again say, What a pleasure it was to welcome you to my beautiful country “
Further, he said that the Muslim world must be united and act in a united manner to address the issues confronting the Ummah.
