Senators say new map to form basis of any talks with India
PHOTO: FILE
A special Senate session on the occasion of Youm-e-Istehsal on Wednesday expressed solidarity with the people Kashmir and demanded end to the brutalities of the occupation forces being committed in the Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK).
The session had a one-point agenda – Kashmir – which was also addressed by President Arif Alvi. During the session, senators from both sides of the isle, unanimously condemned Indian atrocities in IIOJK and suggested that now the talks with India would be held in line with Pakistan's new political map.
The special session of the upper house of parliament was held under the chairmanship of Sadiq Sanjarani. At the outset, the house offered Fateha for the victims of Kashmir, Lebanon blasts and Chaman border firing.
In his address, President Alvi read out a set of demands, including immediate end of military siege of IIOJK, removal of curbs on communication and movement, end to gross human rights violations, lifting of social media and Internet blackout, and lifting of a relentless curfew.
Alvi also demanded that the India must immediately cease inhuman brutalities and aggression against the innocent Kashmiris, leave its illegal occupation of IIOJK release all the detained Kashmiri leaders and restore political activities and stop rape of women and cruelty against minors.
“The Kashmiri people are fed up with the unending torture and oppression,” he said. However, he added: "We will stand by the Kashmiri people and will not leave them alone. Their sacrifices will, one day, lead to their freedom."
Alvi disapproved the warmongering attitude of the Indian media and their leadership. On the contrary, he said that the Pakistani leadership and its media played a very positive role. He also lauded the befitting response of the Pakistan armed forces to the Indian aggression.
About the special Senate session, the president observed that the house wanted to draw attention of the United Nations and the international community to the huge sacrifices of the Kashmiris and the solidarity expressed by the Pakistani leadership and nation.
He said that the Indian leadership always stepped back from its promises and agreements, and failed to honour its commitment made to the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) to implement its resolutions on Kashmir.
“All the pacts and promises were blatantly violated, Geneva Convention over child rights was also violated. India never held talks under the Simla Agreement to discuss the Kashmir issue and stymied all efforts for peaceful resolution of the issue on the pretext of terming it a bilateral issue,” he added.
Speaking during the session, Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Senator Sherry Rehman slammed India for starting the construction of Ram Temple at the site of Babri Masjid. “The temple is now being built at the mosque site, this is not acceptable to us,” she said.
She rejected Indian assertion that Kashmir was its internal matter. She said India was exploiting Kashmiris as much as we are passionate about it. “How could Kashmir be an internal matter of India?” she said. She also asked: “Is a minute’s silence enough?”
In his speech, Jamaat-e-Islami Senator Sirajul Haq proposed the allocation of seats for IIOJK in the Azad Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly as well as the parliament of Pakistan. Haq said that he did not approve of renaming Kashmir Highway as Srinagar Highway. “I support seats in parliament for IIOJK.
Parliamentary Affairs Adviser Dr Babar Awan told the house that the Federal cabinet had approved the new political map of Pakistan and it would also be approved by parliament. Barrister Muhammad Ali Saif said called for employing “law-fare” over warfare.
PPP’s Raza Rabbani said the picture of the boy sitting on the grandfather’s body reflected the sad fact that the world snatched his smile from the children. Farooq Naik made several suggestions to increase diplomatic pressure on India. Maulana Abdul Ghafoor Haideri of the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam urged the United Nations to take notice of the new Indian laws.
The house also witnessed a lighter moment, when Mushahid Hussain said that Sherry Rehman gave a very good speech and wrote an article on Kashmir, adding that If a national government was formed, she would be the foreign minister.