PM’s information adviser leaves for OIC celebrations in Jeddah

ISLAMABAD: Firdous Ashiq Awan, Special Assistant to Prime Minister Imran Khan on information and broadcasting, left for Saudi Arabia on a two-day visit on Monday to attend the Golden Jubilee celebrations of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation’s (OIC) in Jeddah.
Awan is visiting Saudi Arabia on the invitation of the OIC Secretary General and the Foreign Minister of Saudi Arabia.
“As a founding member, Pakistan has always played an active and vibrant role in the OIC,” Awan said in a statement before her departure.
She also expressed deep concern over an attempt to burn the Holy Qur’an in Norway by an extremist right-wing group early this month, and said that on Prime Minister Khan’s directions, she will raise the issue alongside the grave situation in Indian-administered Kashmir at the OIC.
“Islamophobia is a threat to global peace,” Awan said, and added: “All Islamic countries will have to formulate a comprehensive mechanism to combat Islamophobia.”
President of Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Sardar Masood Khan is also in Jeddah and called on the OIC Secretary General, Dr. Yousaf bin Ahmed Al-Othaimeen on Sunday.
President Khan apprised the Secretary General on the latest situation in Kashmir and said the revocation of Kashmir’s special status by India on Aug. 5 was “unilateral and illegal.”
In September this year, the OIC Contact Group on Jammu and Kashmir expressed its solidarity with the Kashmiri people on the side-lines of the 74th UNGA session in New York.