PM asks Lebanon for safe evacuation of Pakistanis from Syria

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Monday directed the authorities concerned to formulate an action plan for the safe evacuation of Pakistanis, wishing to return from Syria, via neighboring countries as soon as possible. He also spoke to his Lebanese counterpart to seek his help in this regard.

The prime minister was chairing a meeting held here to review the current situation of Syria and safe evacuation of Pakistanis present in that country.

“All possible steps should be taken to ensure the safe evacuation of Pakistanis from Syria. The safety of Pakistanis’ lives and property in Syria is our top priority,” the prime minister said while instructing to utilise all available resources for this purpose.

He also directed the Pakistan Embassy in Damascus to establish an information desk and a helpline to facilitate the Pakistanis. Until the security situation improves, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ Crisis Management Unit and information desks at Pakistani embassies in Syria and its neighboring countries should remain operational round-the-clock, the prime minister directed.

The meeting was attended by Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif, Minister for Economic Affairs Ahad Cheema, Minister for Information and Broadcasting Attaullah Tarar, Special Assistant Tariq Fatemi and senior officials from relevant departments.

Meanwhile, during a telephonic conversation with Prime Minister of Lebanon Najib Mikati, Prime Minister Shehbaz, condemning in the strongest terms of Israel’s military aggression against Lebanon, reaffirmed Pakistan’s unwavering support for Lebanon’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.

Shehbaz welcomed the ceasefire agreement for Lebanon and called for a similar one for the people of Palestine. Both leaders exchanged notes on the evolving situation in Syria. Shehbaz sought Mikati’s personal intervention and support in facilitating the immediate evacuation of Pakistani nationals, currently stranded in Syria through Beirut.

Thereafter, the prime minister spoke to Pakistan’s Ambassadors in Syria and Lebanon and instructed them to extend all possible assistance and cooperation to the stranded Pakistanis in Syria and facilitate their safe return home.

Separately, chairing a review meeting on law and order situation in the federal capital, the prime minister directed the relevant authorities to complete the Islamabad Jail construction at the earliest and ensure immediate release of funds for this purpose.

He directed the authorities to take swift action against those involved in recent unrest, vandalism and chaos and damaging both public and private properties in Islamabad. However, he directed to make it sure that no innocent and law-abiding citizen was arrested during the crackdown against those spreading chaos.

The prime minister stressed that the government would not allow anyone to disrupt the stability of the rapidly improving economy through chaos. He also ordered to make the process of identifying those inciting disorder more effective and to gather solid evidence against them. “Provide all necessary resources to the task force formed to take action against such elements,” he said.

The prime minister also instructed to bring the Federal Prosecution Service under the Ministry of Law. The meeting was also informed that the Islamabad Jail building would be completed by March next year. During the meeting, it was informed that the scope of the Islamabad Safe City project was being expanded besides increasing the number of Safe City cameras.

The meeting was attended by Minister for Economic Affairs Ahad Khan Cheema, Interior Minister Syed Mohsin Raza Naqvi, Minister for Law and Justice Azam Nazir Tarar, Information Minister Attaullah Tarar, Advisor to PM Rana Sanaullah, Minister of State for Information Technology Shaza Fatima Khawaja, Coordinator to PM Rana Ihsan Afzal and other high officials.

Meanwhile, in his message on International Human Rights Day, the prime minister called upon all Pakistani citizens, including the federal and provincial governments, media, United Nations (UN) agencies, non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and civil society, to unite and contribute to building a more inclusive and equitable society.

The Government of Pakistan, he further said, had undertaken a number of legislative measures to protect human rights, particularly the vulnerable population, including women, children, senior citizens, transgender persons, minorities and persons with disabilities, in line with the fundamental rights as enshrined in the Articles 8-28 of the Constitution of Pakistan.

The prime minister also mentioned the plight of the people of Palestine who are facing Israel’s brutal aggression in Gaza and the West Bank, urging that the world should not turn a blind eye to the gravest human tragedies of our time and play its role to ask Israel to immediately cease the ongoing genocide of the people of Palestine.

He said the gross human rights violations in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir also needed immediate attention from the global community including the UN. “Pakistan shall continue to extend moral, political and diplomatic support to the people of IIOJK and the people of Palestine until they achieve their universal right to self-determination.”