Pakistan welcomes UN vote against US Jerusalem decision

Lawmakers on Friday backed Pakistan's decision to vote against the U.S. recognition of Jerusalem in a UN vote.

Nuzhat Sadiq, chairwoman of the Senate's Committee on Foreign Affairs, praised the government's bold stance in rejecting U.S. President Donald Trump's new policy by voting for a resolution declaring it "null and void".

"Pakistan welcome and thanks all the states who raised their voice against the U.S.'s illegal decision," Nuzhat said.

Pakistan is a traditional U.S. ally in the Muslim world but was one of 128 to vote for the nonbinding resolution sponsored by Turkey and Yemen.

Foreign Secretary Tehmina Janjua told the committee: "Pakistan has rejected the Trump administration's decision and we stand with our Palestinian brothers and sisters."

The vote dominated Friday morning's newspapers, with the English-language Express Tribune declaring the decision a "Victory for Palestine".

Nawai Waqat, a leading Urdu newspaper, said the UN General Assembly vote saw the world reject Trump's threats and stand with Palestinian people.

Prior to the vote, Washington had threatened to withdraw aid from countries that approved the resolution.

Sirajul Haq, the head of the Jamaat-e-Islami party, praised those who "rejected the U.S. threats and stand with the depressed people of Palestine".

Apart from the U.S. and Israel, seven nations opposed the motion although 35 of the 193 UN member states abstained and 21 were absent from the vote.

On Monday, the U.S. vetoed a Security Council resolution backed by the 14 other council members calling on Trump to reverse his Jerusalem declaration.