Sindh PA demands lifting of IIOJK siege

As the nation observed Youm-e-Istehsal (Kashmir Siege Day) on Wednesday, marking the completion of a year since the Indian government imposed a curfew in the Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK), the Sindh Assembly passed a resolution condemning the atrocities committed by Indian forces in the valley, expressing solidarity with the people of IIOJK and calling for lifting the curfew immediately.

The resolution recalls that on August 5, 2019, the Indian government, in a blatant violation of its constitution providing special status to IIOJK, "illegally annexed it and abolished its special status."

Reaffirming that Kashmir continues to be an unfinished agenda of the Partition and an internationally recognised dispute that has remained on the United Nation (UN) agenda since 1948, the resolution strongly condemned the "illegal" Indian Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2019.

As per the resolution, the Act, passed by the Indian parliament last year to revoke IIOJK's special status, allowed the granting of domiciles to the non-residents of the valley - a move aimed at "altering [the] demographic characteristic" of IIOJK.

Urging the international community to take notice of the matter, the resolution "denounces all illegal actions of the Indian government" in IIOJK, including raping women and girls, keeping the youth in detention, subjecting Kashmiris to torture and killing them brutally.

It further demands that the people of IIOJK be given their due right of self-determination through a plebiscite conducted in line with the UN Security Council resolution.

'Unwavering support'

Passing the resolution unanimously, lawmakers paid tribute to the "courage and valour" of the people of IIOJK, and promised their "unflinching and unwavering" support to them in their struggle for the right of self-determination.

Addressing the house, Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah said that Kashmir was an inseparable part of Pakistan, adding that Pakistan's independence was incomplete until Kashmir became independent.

"India has failed to achieve its goals despite its atrocities against Kashmiris," he asserted, adding that Prime Minister Imran Khan had taken the positive step of bringing up the cause in the UN. "We should follow up on this. Our unity will fulfil Kashmiri aspirations."

Meanwhile, Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal MPA Abdul Rasheed pointed out that India had deployed hundreds of thousands of soldiers in the valley but even their presence could not suppress the Kashmiris' struggle.

"Generations have passed shouting the slogan 'Kashmir banega Pakistan' [Kashmir will become part of Pakistan]," he said, adding that lawmakers had to take action on their resolutions rather than just passing them. "What role have our rulers played? The UN has passed four resolutions [on Kashmir] but Pakistan's rulers have not made serious efforts to implement them."

Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan's Javed Hanif added that there was much that Pakistan could do for Kashmir's independence. "Kashmiris too have to think about what they can do, because IIOJK will not be freed without a struggle."

Muhammad Hussain, also from MQM-P, demanded that those responsible for upholding justice in the world should play their part against those who had deprived the people of Kashmir of their sight [with pellet guns].

"Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi wrote a new story of oppression and tyranny a year ago. He believes he will remain alive in history by oppressing Kashmiris, but he will be remembered as a tyrant," stated Grand Democratic Alliance MPA Nusrat Sehar Abbasi, adding that 100,000 children had been orphaned and 22,000 women raped in the valley. "Have Indian extremists forgotten humanity?"

She further urged those who could not struggle for IIOJK to use the power of the pen to help it gain freedom.

"Muslim countries are silent over Kashmir. Pakistan is the only country standing with it, but the entire Muslim world should stand against the massacre of Muslims in IIOJK," insisted PTI's Khurrum Sher Zaman, further claiming that the treatment of Hindus in Pakistan was exemplary.

Pakistan Muslim League-Functional MPA Nand Kumar, meanwhile, said that Kashmir's independence was not far away, adding that Pakistan's minorities, too, were willing to shed their blood for the cause.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 6^th, 2020.