SAPM Firdous Ashiq Awan addresses media in Islamabad on Wednesday. PHOTO: NNI
ISLAMABAD/ LAHORE/ KARACHI: Political parties and leaders of every hue on Wednesday expressed solidarity with the people of disputed Kashmir valley as they called upon the world community to intervene and help resolve the longstanding issue according to wishes of Kashmiris.
In his message on the Kashmir Solidarity Day, President Dr Arif Alvi reiterated resolve to continue raising the issue of Kashmir at every forum and said India’s illegal August 2019 move has further strengthened the bonds between the people of Indian Occupied Jammu & Kashmir (IOJK) and Pakistan.
India on August 5 unilaterally revoked a constitutional provision that gave special status to the IOJK. The occupied part of the Himalayan valley is under a continuous curfew and lockdown since,
“The government and the people of Pakistan will continue to extend their political, moral and diplomatic support to the Kashmiri people until they get their legitimate right to self-determination as per the United Nations Security Council resolutions,” the president said.
Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Information Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan said Kashmir is Pakistan’s integral part and soon the people of Kashmir will win freedom from brutalities of India.
“Now India is exposed before the whole world and can no longer continue its brutalities, atrocities and human rights violation in the occupied valley. Prime Minister of Pakistan Imran Khan has become the voice of these innocent and tyrannized people, fighting for them on every forum” she added.
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The Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) chairman and co-chairman also issued statement on the occasion.
The PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari said the only solution to the Kashmir issue is to respect wishes of the Kashmiri people and conduct a plebiscite in the disputed valley in light of the UN resolutions.
“Inaction of the international community in enforcing the UN resolutions has been a betrayal. I urged the world to step up to ensure the rights and wishes of the Kashmiri people are respected,” he said.
He called upon global leaders not to watch idly as Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi stokes flames of communalism and ghettoization. The PPP chairman saluted the Kashmiri people who have faced the worst repression in their struggle for the right of self-determination.
PPP Co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari said India cannot continue to usurp Kashmiris right to self-determination any longer by the use of brutal force.
“The entire nation is untied for the liberation of Kashmir. Kashmir has been turned into the largest prison in the world. Food and medicines are the major issues in Kashmir.
“The Kashmir issue should be resolved according to the United Nations resolutions as independence is the basic right of Kashmiris,” he said on a statement.
Punjab Governor Chaudhry Sarwar said Pakistan will take along Kashmiris at every forum and is ready to render any sacrifice for freedom of Kashmir. Addressing a conference in Lahore, he said Kashmiris are the main stakeholder in the dispute and no dialogue could succeed without taking them on board.
“Indian Occupied Kashmir is disconnected from rest of the world and its people are facing shortage of edibles and other life amenities. People of Indian Occupied Kashmir love Pakistan and the international community is also condemning Indian atrocities in the held valley,” he said.
Senate Chairman Sadiq Sanjrani said the people of the IOJK have been subjected to worst human rights abuses and under such circumstances, Pakistan stands shoulder to shoulder with them.
“The Indian occupation forces are perpetrating acts of aggression against the innocent Kashmiris with impunity. There is urgent need to condemn and address the grave human rights violations in the IOK.”
He urged the international community to play its due role in resolving the longstanding dispute in the light of UN resolutions. "We also need to send a message to our brothers and sisters in the IOK that Pakistan stands firmly with them" he said.
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