OIC devises 10-year uplift Action Plan

MAKKAH—The two day Organisation of Islamic Summit of Muslim Kings, heads of states and governments begins at Al- Safa Palace, the Royal Guest House which forms part of the Haram Sharif and overlooks the Holy Kaaba on today (Wednesday). The extraordinary summit in Makkah — Islam’s holiest city, is being convened at the initiative of Saudi King Abdullah Bin Abdul Aziz from Dec 7-8.
It will also adopt a Ten-Year Programme of Action to restructure and revitalize the organization and consider the recommendations made by the Commission of Eminent Persons (CEP) and Makkah Forum of Scholars and Intellectuals. Saudi King Abdullah bin Abdel Aziz will address the Islamic nation at the opening session of the summit.
The recommendations by the CEP would endorse the concept of enlightened moderation of President Musharraf that calls for promoting moderation in religious life. It would also urge the OIC to denounce terrorism, religious and secular extremism and radicalism and promotion of true values of Islam. The CEP also seeks a collective security system against internal and external threats for the Ummah and would exhort the Muslim countries to display solidarity and avoid conflicts and border disputes.
President General Pervez Musharraf, who will be leading the Pakistani delegation, expressed confidence that the summit would adopt a new charter of OIC and consider the recommendations of the CEP. “It is no more an option but a compulsion on Muslim leaders to accept recommendations and go for a new charter for the OIC,” he told reporters before leaving for Kuwait on his way to Saudi Arabia. The CEP, with members from 17 Muslim countries was established at the tenth summit in Malaysia. The enlistment of the Muslim intelligentsia is aimed at formulating a response to the critics from the Western world and to present Islam in its true spirit. Pakistan is represented by Senator Mushahid Hussain Sayed.
Pakistan’s delegation will include Foreign Minister Khurshid M Kasuri and Foreign Secretary Riaz Mohammad Khan, Senator Mushahid Hussain, Chairman of the Senate Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs. OIC Secretary General Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu has described the summit a significant event and termed it “a changing point” in the pan-Islamic organization’s history.—Online