PM Shehbaz likely to meet Turkish President Erdoğan
Spokesman Report
ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif Friday while expressing solidarity for the brave Palestinian people, reiterated support for the global pledge of an independent state of Palestine. The prime minister, in his message on Al Quds Day observed annually on last Friday of Holy Ramazan, said the designation of the Day by Iran in 1979 was aimed at expressing Muslim Ummah’s support for the Palestinian people in their struggle for rights. He said Jerusalem has been recognized as the capital of the Palestinian state where the Qibla-e-Awal was a source of peace for the Muslims.
Every year, on this day, Muslims strongly condemn the oppression of the Zionist forces, barbaric attacks and aggression by a Zionist state. Pakistan also joins the voices for justice and condemns the oppression of the Palestinian people, he added. The prime minister urged the international community to ensure the implementation of the UN Security Council resolutions and agreements on the two-state solution. He viewed that the enforcement of the UN Security Council resolutions against the illegal occupation of Jammu and Kashmir and Palestine by India and Israel respectively could bring about a durable peace in the region. The prime minister also paid tribute the martyrs of the Kashmir and Palestine movements and prayed for the success of their decades old struggle.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif is likely to meet Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, sources privy to the matter said Friday. According to the sources, Turkish President Erdoğan conveyed a message to PM Shehbaz to meet him. “I would like to meet you,” read the message sent by the president, the sources said. Currently, the premier is on a three-day visit to Saudi Arabia at the invitation of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman bin Abdulaziz. Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif, Finance Minister Miftah Ismail, Information Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb, Shahzain Bugti, Mohsin Dawar, Khalid Maqbool Siddiqi, Chaudhry Salik, and four members of PM Shehbaz Sharif’s personal staff are accompanying the prime minister on his visit.
The prime minister held a brief meeting with Madinah’s governor, where both the leaders exchanged views on bilateral relations. Taking to Twitter before leaving for Saudi Arabia, PM Shehbaz had said that his visit will “renew and reaffirm” ties between the two countries. He added that he will hold wide-ranging discussions with the Saudi leadership. Giving a briefing on the visit, Foreign Office spokesperson Asim Iftikhar, in a statement, had said that the prime minister will be in the kingdom from April 28-30.
During the visit, the prime minister will have bilateral interaction with the Saudi leadership, with a particular focus on advancing economic, trade and investment ties, and creating greater opportunities for the Pakistani workforce in Saudi Arabia, the spokesperson said. “The two sides will also exchange views on a range of regional and international issues of mutual interest,” the spokesperson said
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif offered the prayers of Jumma-tul-Wida, the last Friday of Ramazan, at the Masjid-e-Nabavi on the second day of his visit. The prime minister prayed for the peace and prosperity of the country.The members of the prime minister’s delegation also offered the prayers. Earlier, the prime minister twice visited Roza-e-Rasool (PBUH) to pay his respects and also offer Nawafil at the holy place.
PM Shehbaz Sharif arrived in Madina Munawwara on Thursday on a three-day visit to Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. During the visit, the prime minister will have bilateral interaction with the Saudi leadership, with a particular focus on advancing economic, trade, and investment ties and creating greater opportunities for the Pakistani workforce in Saudi Arabia. The two sides will also exchange views on a range of regional and international issues of mutual interest.