Shoaib Ansari 
Pakistan elected to UN Human Rights Council for fifth time
Pakistan was elected by the United Nations’ Human Rights Council for the fifth time as Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi termed the re-election to the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) as an important diplomatic achievement.
In a statement, Qureshi said Pakistan was supported by every region in its election to the human rights council. He said influential and important countries also backed Pakistan.
In a tweet, the foreign minister said Pakistan’s re-election was “a manifestation of the international community’s confidence and trust in Pakistan’s commitment to a progressive national & global human rights agenda.”
Pakistan has been elected to the council six times since its establishment in 2006.
FM Qureshi said this vote also shows Pakistan’s performance in the human rights council over the last three years. He said the world today is recognizing Pakistan’s role.
Shah Mahmood Qureshi said human rights violations have increased in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir and becoming part of the human rights council at this critical time is a big achievement.
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Prime Minister Imran Khan also lauded Pakistan’s re-election to the council. He said that, in a major diplomatic success, Pakistan has been re-elected to the Human Rights Council by the UN General Assembly today for the term 2021-23. Pakistan’s candidature was supported by an overwhelming majority of countries; reflects the confidence of the international community in Pakistan’s credentials.
He further added that Pakistan’s resounding success in this election to an important UN body showcases Pakistan as a principled, reliable, and responsible player at the international stage, with the capacity to contribute meaningfully to the work of the UN, especially on issues related to human rights.
China, Russia, and Cuba won their seats on the human rights body, Their candidature was opposed by activist groups over their human rights records, although Russia and Cuba were running unopposed, one of the main targets of the activist groups, Saudia Arabia lost its seat.
