Opening Remarks for the Weekly Press Briefing by Spokesperson on 17 August 2023
Thanks for joining us for the Weekly Briefing.
Today marks a significant transition in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs as Ambassador Muhammad Syrus Sajjad Qazi assumes the role of 32nd Foreign Secretary of Pakistan succeeding Ambassador Dr. Asad Majeed Khan. Ambassador Qazi brings with him extensive experience in bilateral and multilateral diplomacy having served at Pakistan’s Permanent Mission to the United Nations, Geneva (from 1995 to 1999), Pakistan’s High Commission in New Delhi (from 2005 to 2006), and our Embassy in Washington D.C. (from 2006 to 2013). He served as Pakistan’s Ambassador to Hungary from 2015 to 2017 and to Türkiye from 2017 to 2022.
We extend our heartfelt gratitude to Dr. Asad Majeed Khan for his dedicated service and steadfast commitment to diplomacy. Under his leadership, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs navigated complex global challenges and worked to strengthen Pakistan’s international partnerships. He will also be remembered for his efforts for capacity building of the Foreign Service of Pakistan which will bear long-lasting fruits for the Service and for the nation. We celebrate his many accomplishments, thank him for his services to the country and wish him success in all his future endeavours.
In a communication addressed to the Government of India, UN special procedures for human rights have expressed serious concerns at the arrest, detention and charges against Kashmiri human rights defenders, Mr. Khurram Pervaiz and Mr. Irfan Mehraj. The communication has been signed by the UN Special Rapporteur on the Situation of Human Rights Defenders; the Working Group on Enforced or Involuntarily Disappearances; the Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Freedom and Peaceful Assembly and of Association; and the Special Rapporteur on the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms.
Mr. Khurram Pervaiz, who is the Programme Coordinator of the Jammu and Kashmir Coalition of Civil Society (JKCSS) and Mr. Irfan Mehraj, a researcher with JKCSS, are detained in Rohini prison in New Dehi. The UN Special Procedures have expressed concern that their arrests and detention are designed to delegitimize their human rights work and to obstruct monitoring of the human rights situation in IIOJK.
The communication by the UN Special Procedures is yet another indictment of the Indian occupation authorities in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) as it continues to silence and harass Kashmiri human rights defenders. We urge India to bring an end to the unjustified and illegal detention of Mr. Khurrum Pervaiz and Mr. Irfan Mehraj and numerous other Kashmiri activists who are languishing in jails for raising their voice against Indian oppression.
I thank you.
Editor: Raja Kamran