Islamabad (Ehsan Bukhari):
Intellectuals, educators, civil society members, youth, and media professionals marked the first-ever International Day of Reflection and Remembrance of the 1995 Srebrenica Genocide, as declared by the United Nations in 2024, through a resolution passed by the General Assembly. Pakistan supported this resolution. The day also marked the 30th anniversary of the genocide that took place on July 11, 1995, when Bosnian Serb military forces massacred thousands of Bosnian civilians.
In this regard, a special event was organized on July 10, 2025, at the Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto Institute of Science and Technology (SZABIST) in Islamabad. The event was a joint effort by the Shaheed Bhutto Foundation Islamabad, the Embassy of Bosnia and Herzegovina, and the international magazine “Pakistan in the World.”
The highlight of the event was the screening of the Oscar-nominated and European Union award-winning film “Quo Vadis, Aida?” The film powerfully depicts the suffering of Bosnian mothers and sisters, who were brutally separated from their sons and brothers during the genocide.
Key speakers included Asif Khan, CEO of the Shaheed Bhutto Foundation; Ambassador Emin Cohodarović; Dr. Tariq Waheed, Head of Social Sciences at SZABIST; Ms. Amna Munawer Awan, Chairperson of the Center for Pakistan and International Relations; and Tazeen Akhtar, Editor of “Pakistan in the World.”
Asif Khan spoke about the support given by Shaheed Benazir Bhutto to Bosnia during its struggle for survival and independence. He recalled her solidarity visit to Bosnia in February 1995 as Prime Minister. He added that when the President of Bosnia sought support for the UN resolution last year, President Zardari responded with brotherly solidarity, and Pakistan voted in favor of the resolution.
In his keynote speech, the Bosnian Ambassador stated, “We stand united against those who try to divide us and commit to opposing hatred, discrimination, and prejudice wherever they appear. Only then can our communities and the world become safer, stronger, and more united.” He expressed gratitude to Pakistan for its strong support during the adoption of the UN resolution in May 2024.
He stressed the importance of standing up for truth in today’s complex global environment and called for strengthening a culture of peace, supporting justice, rejecting the glorification of war criminals, and reinforcing education systems to help prevent future genocides.
Participants watched the film with deep interest to better understand how the atrocities unfolded under Serb forces. They unanimously condemned the cruelty inflicted on Bosnian civilians during their fight for freedom. On this occasion, PPP Sports Wing Punjab President Tayyab Chattha presented a commemorative shield to the Ambassador.
