Asia Pacific Group of IPU discusses Islamophobia

DOHA: Speaker of National Assembly of Pakistan, Asad Qaiser,  chaired meeting of 35-member Asia-Pacific Group of the Inter Parliamentary Union (IPU) yesterday.

The meeting of this Group, which was held prior to the inaugural ceremony, deliberated in detail on the crucial five emergency items, focusing on critical issues of xenophobia, Islamophobia, protection for Muslim minorities all over the world, plight of the Palestinian people and the humanitarian crisis in wake of the Cyclone which battered Mozambique, Malawi, and Zimbabwe. 

Turkey and Indonesia had moved separate resolutions on Islamophobia while Kuwait and Morocco pressed for the resolutions on Palestinian people while the Netherlands is the proponent of the humanitarian crisis in the African continent. 

While chairing the meeting, Asad Qaiser stressed on adopting a unified Asian approach. He noted that two of the proponents of the emergency items on Xenophobia, Turkey and Indonesia, were also the members of the Asia-Pacific Group and so it was important that the two countries clubbed their respective resolutions in a consensus draft. The suggestion from Pakistan was accepted by the Group. 

Later, in his remark as Chairperson, the Speaker offered his condolences to the people and parliament of New Zealand over the barbaric act of terrorism at two Christchurch mosques on March 15, which claimed the innocent lives of 50 worshipers. He called for forging unity among the ranks of Asian nations in order to turn the current century truly an ‘Asian Century’. 

He stressed on invoking the dictums of parliamentary diplomacy and ensuring regular and frequent contacts among the Asian legislatures, in order to develop better understanding on issues of terrorism, poverty, xenophobia and clash of civilizations, which are badly hampering the harmonious development across continents, especially the Asian continent. 

Later, Asad Qaiser held a meeting with his counterpart from Oman, ‎Khalid Al Mawali, the Chairman of the Shura Council of Oman. The Omani Chairman congratulated the Speaker on his success in the last general elections and becoming Pakistan’s 21st Speaker. Speaker Asad Qaiser noted that Oman and Pakistan had historic brotherly ties and had been supporting each other on all important issues. He stressed on expanding the economic relations and in this regard, both sides agreed to boost the bilateral parliamentary relations.