PM’s information adviser meets OIC secretary general in Jeddah

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan’s Special Assistant on Information and Broadcasting met with the Secretary-General of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), Dr. Yousef Al-Othaimeen, in Jeddah on Monday where the two discussed the latest situation in Kashmir.
Firdous Ashiq Awan was attending the OIC’s golden jubilee celebrations, where she reiterated the need for the Muslim countries to be united and forge a stronger bond.
Awan is visiting Saudi Arabia on the invitation of the Foreign Minister of Saudi Arabia and Al-Othaimeen.
“Negative propaganda against Islam could be countered by projecting the real message of Islam,” Awan said, before urging OIC members to work toward resolving the problems of Kashmiris.
“As a founding member, Pakistan has always played an active and vibrant role in the OIC,” Awan said in a statement.
She also expressed deep concern over a recent attempt to burn the Holy Qur’an in Norway by an extremist right-wing group earlier this month, and addressed the matter alongside the grave situation in Indian-administered Kashmir.
“Islamophobia is a threat to global peace,” Awan said, adding that all Islamic countries “will have to formulate a comprehensive mechanism to combat Islamophobia.”
President of Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Sardar Masood Khan, who was also part of the forum in Jeddah, met with Al-Othaimeenon Sunday.
President Khan apprised the Secretary General of the latest situation in Kashmir and said the revocation of Kashmir’s special status by India on August 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 sidelines of the 74th UNGA session in New York.