Fazl-led committee briefed on Kashmir

Officials of foreign ministry give MPs an in-camera briefing on the recent killings and Pakistan’s response

ISLAMABAD: A special parliamentary panel on Wednesday received an in-camera briefing on the recent Indian aggression against the people of Indian Occupied Kashmir (IOK) as it condemned the killing of innocent Kashmiris and constituted sub-committee to give recommendations.

The Special Committee on Kashmir Affairs, headed by JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman, met at the Parliament House and passed a resolution to condemn the Indian aggression. Officials of foreign ministry gave the MPs an in-camera briefing on the recent killings and Pakistan’s response.

Later, the committee constituted a five-member committee, led by PML-Z leader Ijazul Haq, to hold regular meetings and give recommendations to the special committee on how to raise the issue at different forums. Unrest in the disputed Himalayan valley spiked after Indian security forces on July 8 killed Burhan Wani, 22, an iconic militant commander. During the protest that ensued the Indian forces have killed around 45 Kashmiris while injuring around 3,500 people.



The meeting was attended by Adviser to the PM on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz, Minister for Gilgit-Baltistan and Kashmir Affairs Barjees Tahir, Information Minister Pervaiz Rashid, Senate’s Leader of the House Raja Zafarul Haq, JI chief Senator Sirajul Haq, Senator Mushahid Hussain Sayed, Senator Sajid Mir and Senator Abdul Malik.

The committee, whose chief – Fazlur Rehman – was being criticised for his delay in calling the meeting,  also expressed complete solidarity with the people of Kashmir and asked the government to raise the issue in the joint session of parliament.

“The international community has to play its role as Kashmiris will continue their struggle and Pakistan will continue to support their cause,” said Fazl, adding that India has drawn international condemnation for using brute force against people protesting against the killing of Burhan Wani.

After the meeting, Fazl told media that the committee has demanded of the government to raise the issue in the joint session of parliament so that lawmakers could debate the issue and a message could be sent across to the world about the brutal acts of Indian Army.

The committee chairman also demanded that the government call an international conference on Kashmir issue to highlight Kashmir’s struggle and Indian’s brutal acts.

Pakistan has already raised serious concerns over the continued killings in the IOK and called the use of ‘excessive force’ against innocent civilians protesting peacefully over extrajudicial killings deplorable and a blatant violation of the right to life.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 21^st, 2016.