ISLAMABAD: Pakistan is all set to host the upcoming meeting of the Council of Foreign Ministers (CFM) of Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) in Islamabad on March 22-23.

Interior Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed said security arrangements for the 48th session of the OIC Council of Foreign Ministers have been finalised as dignitaries started arriving for the historic meeting.

Addressing media in Islamabad on Sunday, the minister said around 15,000 security personnel, including Police, Rangers and FC have been deployed in Islamabad for this purpose. He said security of red zone has been handed over to Rangers and FC, and no one will be allowed to support enemy’s agenda of spoiling the country’s peace.

While commenting on PPP leader Bilawal Bhutto’s statement regarding disrupting OIC session, the minister categorically said such an irresponsible statement will not be tolerated. He said leaders of the parties will be held accountable in case of any anarchic move during their rallies before voting on no confidence motion. He made it clear that if PTI workers can be arrested then no other party is above law.

Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi said that it was an honour for Pakistan to host the meeting, of few months after the successful hosting of an extraordinary meeting of the OIC-CFM last year.

He said the OIC officials would keep arriving on March 21. “The two-day session is a significant one as it is being held at an important phase when the Ummah is confronted with a host of issues,” he said, citing the Palestine issue and Kashmir issue, the latter had assumed significance after India’s unilateral and illegal steps of Aug 5, 2019.

Other global challenges like economic contraction and its fallout, and climate change, etc. would also come under consideration. More than 100 resolutions would be considered during the two-day session.

During the extraordinary session of OIC-CFM, Pakistan had highlighted the situation in Afghanistan, and in the upcoming meeting, it would highlight the Kashmir issue once again, urging the world that it could no longer neglect the grave situation there.

Pakistan had invited the worthy guests to attend Pakistan Day parade on March 23 and witness the professional capability of Pakistan’s armed forces and the traditional floats of all the provinces, reflecting the national unity.

The foreign ministers from the member states of the OIC would also deliberate over the Afghan issue as the country was facing serious humanitarian and economic crises.

While the pan-Islamic group OIC in a statement said, “the session will address many topics and the activities of the OIC General Secretariat on implementing the resolutions adopted on various issues in the Islamic world, including the issue of Palestine and Al-Quds.”

The summit will also discuss developments in Afghanistan and its humanitarian consequences for the Afghan people and the situation in Jammu and Kashmir, it added.