OIC must revive its glory
Islamabad, Pakistan: “The Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) can play a proactive role for resolve crises being faced by Muslim countries all over the world and can fight against terrorism if it revives its role that it played in early 70s, particularly in 1974 Middle East war.
Muslim world is facing extreme threat from terrorist organizations like Al Shabab, Boku Haram, Daish, Taliban, Tehrik-i-Taliban (TTP) and other extremist organizations and OIC should in its 13th Summit to be held in Turkey can come up with concrete and clear strategy to save Muslim world terrorisms and other threats”
These were observations of a participants of a penal discussion held on Monday in popular PTV Current Affairs show “Khabar Kay Sath Sath” hosted and anchored by Naheed Chaudhary. Participants of discussion included senior journalists Tariq Mehmood Chaudhary, Rana Qaisar and Agha Iqrar Haroon.
Looking into the history of OIC, participants maintained that OIC founded in 1969 consisting of 57 member states with a commitment to work as “collective voice of the Muslim world” and to “safeguard and protect the interests of the Muslim world” in the spirit of promoting international peace and harmony.
Since the 19th century, some Muslims had aspired to ummah to serve their common political, economic, and social interests. The collapse of the Ottoman Empire and the Caliphate after World War I left a vacuum for a pan-Islamic institution. Losing the Six-Day War in 1967 provided the incentive needed, leaders of Muslim nations met in Rabat to establish the OIC on 25 September 1969 and formed the organization. According to its charter, the OIC aims to preserve Islamic social and economic values; promote solidarity amongst member states; increase cooperation in social, economic, cultural, scientific, and political areas; uphold international peace and security; and advance education, particularly in the fields of science and technology.
Participants lauded the role of OIC in second Middle East war commonly known as Yom Kippur War and decision of OIC members to use oil as weapon against western countries, resulting in Israeli withdrawal from the Sinai Peninsula and abolishment of the military governance system in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. However participants believed that OIC lost its role in late 70s and now it needs overhauling to meet the demands of Muslim world.
Participants hoped that forthcoming Summit in Turkey could bring a new life in OIC because Muslim world was facing extreme challenges. However, participants feared that some of Middle Eastern countries might not attend Summit in Turkey because of political reasons.
