On Thursday, 26 October 2023, Ambassador Azhar received a courtesy call by a 5 - member delegation headed by the Honourable Senator Raja Zafar ul Haq, Convener of National Al-Quds Committee at the High Commission. Other members of National Al-Quds committee were Mr. Asif Luqman Qazi, Director of Foreign Affairs, Jamaat-e-Islami, Mr. Ayaz Wazir, former Ambassador of Pakistan, Mr. Tahir Rasheed Tanoli, Central Joint Secretary, Jamait Ulma-e-Pakistan (JUP), Maulana Muhammad Amin Shaheedi, Chairman of Ummat-e-Wahidah Pakistan. Mrs. Norwati Majudi, Immigration Attaché was also present in the meeting. During the meeting, both sides discussed in detail about the deteriorating situation in Gaza and expressed deep concern over the unabated violence and willful, indiscriminate killing of innocent civilians in Gaza by Israeli forces.
During the call, Senator Raja Zafar ul Haq apprised the High Commissioner that Al-Quds Committee comprised 10 members and 42 political parties of Pakistan including Pakistan Muslim League - Nawaz (PML-N), Pakistan People's Party (PPP), Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), Jamaat-e-Islamic (JI), Jamiat Ulema-e-Pakistan (Noorani), Milli Yakjehti Council, Majlis-e-Wahdat--e-Muslimeen (Haqiqi), Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-F (JUI-F), Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JUI-S) and other political and religious parties. The Senator stated that the Al-Quds Committee was working in the whole country to raise awareness about Palestinian conflict. He informed the High Commissioner that the Committee also had met with the envoys of Iran, Palestine and Turkiye to show their solidarity with Palestinian people. The Senator appreciated Malaysia's role and commended the leadership of Prime Minister of Malaysia in highlighting the Palestinian cause at global level.
In his response, Ambassador Azhar shared with the delegation that Malaysia was staunchly supporting the people of Palestine and condemned the Israeli bombardment at hospital in Gaza. He further stated the Prime Minister of Malaysia recently visited Saudi Arabia, Turkiye and Egypt to discuss the deteriorating situation in Gaza. He added that the Government of Malaysia was also raising public funds for the Palestinians. He stated that the Prime Minister of Malaysia had also launched a solidarity campaign with the turn-out of 16,000 people on 24 October 2023. The Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim joined the pro-Palestinian supporters to condemn Israel's barbaric acts in the Gaza Strip, where thousands were estimated to have been killed in Israeli attacks, and denounced its Western supporters. Ambassador Azhar stressed that the international community needed to understand the grave situation of Palestine and stressed the need to resolve the conflict as per the aspiration of people of Palestine and the resolution of United Nations Security Council (UNSC).
