Foreign Office Spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch has categorically rejected Israel’s statement regarding the adoption of Pakistan’s Universal Periodic Report, terming Israel’s criticism of human rights in Pakistan as “politically motivated”.
The strong rebuttal comes hours after Israel’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Adi Farjon, expressed her country’s “deep concern about the overall situation of the Human Rights in Pakistan” during a UN Human Rights Council sitting.
“Israel is deeply concerned about the overall Human Rights situation in Pakistan, where enforced disappearances, torture, crackdown on peaceful protests and violence against religious minorities and other marginalized groups remain prevalent,” she said.
“Israel believes that it is essential that Pakistan heeds our recommendations to take all appropriate steps to prevent arbitrary arrests, torture and other ill-treatment and bring perpetrators of such acts to justice and end the widespread use of the death penalty, especially against children and persons with disabilities,” she added.
The foreign office in a statement said on Tuesday the UN Human Rights Council today adopted Pakistan’s Universal Periodic Report unanimously. Several states and civil society organisations commended Pakistan on the progress achieved in promoting human rights, foreign office spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch said in a statement.
Taking note of the Israeli envoy’s remarks, the spokesperson said Israel’s politically motivated statement was fundamentally at variance with the otherwise positive tone of the session and the statements made by a vast majority of states.
“Given Israel’s long history of oppression of Palestinians, Pakistan can certainly do without its advice on protecting Human Rights,” she added.
