NEWS YORK, SEPT 21 (DNA) – The Prime Minister is leading Pakistan’s delegation to the 72nd UNGA Session in New York. You already have the details of the entourage. He is scheduled to address the UN General Assembly on 21 September. On the sidelines, he has held bilateral meetings with the King of Jordan, Presidents of Turkey, Iran, Sri Lanka, and US Vice President.

The Foreign Minister and Foreign Secretary also had a number of bilateral meetings on the sidelines. They also had other important activities. During the stay, the Prime Minister would also have some more engagements as also the FM and FS. We have been keeping our media informed on the outcome of the meetings.

The Int’l Atomic Energy Agency has unveiled a bust of Pakistan’s first Nobel Laureate, Dr. Abdus Salam, at its Headquarters. An advocate of “Atoms for Peace”, Dr. Salam’s efforts in making the world aware of the benefits of using nuclear knowledge for peace, health and prosperity have been globally acknowledged.

We condole with the people and the Government of Mexico on the devastations caused by the earthquake, which took a heavy toll on human lives.

While in New York 72nd Session of UN General Assembly and in Geneva 36th Session of Human Rights Council are in progress, Indian occupation forces martyred four more youth in Srinagar and Kupwara areas during last 6 days. We strongly condemn continued killing of innocent Kashmiris in staged encounters. At least two dozen defenseless Kashmiris were injured after Indian forces used brute force in different parts of the Indian occupied Jammu & Kashmir. Continued illegal detention of senior Hurriyet leader Shabbir Ahmad Shah, Massrat Alam Bhat, Aasiya Andrabi, Fehmeeda Sofi and over six hundreds of Hurriyet leaders , activists and students on fake cases languishing in different jails of occupied Jammu & Kashmir and in India is deplorable and a matter of deep concern. Int’l Community and the UN call India to account for the crimes against innocent and defenceless Kashmiris in IoK are committed by Indian occupation forces with impunity. Kashmiris in occupied Jammu & Kashmir were denied Juma prayers last week also in violation of human rights and religious freedom.

I wish to inform that OIC Contact Group on Jammu & Kashmir held a successful meeting in New York, chaired by OIC Secretary General. Dy PM of Turkey, FMs and Representatives of Azerbaijan, Saudi Arabia, Niger and OIC SG’s Special Envoy on J&K, Mr. Abdullah Alim participated. The Foreign Minister Khawaja Asif spoke of the human rights violations and denial of the right to self-determination of the Kashmiri people, which has been promised to them in the UN Security Council’s Resolutions. President AJ&K, Sardar Masood Khan, presented the situation of Kashmiris in IoK. The True Representatives of Kashmiri people presented a Memorandum to the Contact Group.

In the ongoing Asian Indoor Games in Ashgabat, Pakistani Sports Teams made us proud with their sterling performance, winning 16 medals so far. We extend our heartiest congratulations to our teams.