Pakistan reminds UN of its unfulfilled promise to Kashmiris

Pakistan on Tuesday vowed to continue supporting Kashmiris in their just struggle for the right to self-determination, urging the United Nations to honour its pledge to hold a free and impartial plebiscite in Kashmir.

President Dr Arif Alvi, Prime Minister Imran, Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi and Information Minister Senator Shibli Faraz in their separate messages extended strong support to Kashmiris all over the world, on the occasion of the Kashmiris’ Right to Self-determination Day.

On January 5, 1949, the United Nations Commission for India and Pakistan (UNCIP) had adopted a resolution that embodied the principle of right to self-determination for the people of Kashmir. The resolution mentions that the question of accession of Kashmir will be decided through democratic method of a free and impartial plebiscite.

President Alvi in his message said that Pakistan would continue to extend all possible support for the just cause of the people of Jammu and Kashmir till the realisation of their right to self-determination in accordance with the UN Security Council resolutions.

“The right to self-determination is a vital component of human dignity. Negation of this right is the negation of human freedom, Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and the UN Human Rights Covenants,” he said. “India is the biggest violator of this inalienable human right,” he added.

The president stressed that the United Nations must honour its commitment made 72 years ago, and urged the global community not to shy away from its responsibility towards the oppressed people in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu & Kashmir (IIOJK).

“The people of IIOJK, he said, were being subjected to collective punishment by the Indian occupation forces, which had turned the territory into the largest militarised zone in the world and were seeking to change the demographic structure of the occupied territory in violation of the international law, including the 4th Geneva Convention.

Prime Minister Imran Khan called upon the international community to take action on the “well-documented human rights violations” being committed with impunity by the Indian occupation forces against innocent Kashmiri men, women and children.

He said it was time for the world to ensure that the Kashmiris get their right to self-determination, denied to them since 73 years. On January 5, he said, “we observe this day as a reminder to the UN and its member states of their unfulfilled commitment to the Kashmiri people”.

Imran said in a series of tweets that despite suffering 73 years of brutal Indian occupation, the Kashmiri people remained steadfast generation after generation in their demand for their inalienable right to self-determination.

Qureshi said that Pakistan would continue its strong and steadfast support to the valiant Kashmiri people in their just struggle for human dignity and their inalienable right to self-determination.

Regrettably, he added, this right of Kashmiris was being brazenly denied by India in IIOJK for more than past seven decades. “The United Nations, especially the UN Security Council, bear the responsibility to ensure fulfilment of the promise to the Kashmiris,” he said.

NAB performance

Earlier, the opposition Senators slammed the government over arrest of their leaders and also criticised the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) for “remaining silent on corruption in several mega projects of the PTI government scandals.

During the session, Sherry Rehman of the PPP urged the house to pass a resolution in favour of the Kashmiri people on the occasion of Kashmiris’ Right to Self-determination Day. While Mussadiq Malik of PML-N asked the government to share its Kashmir strategy with the opposition.

“On this January 5, a unanimous resolution should be passed in the House regarding Kashmir,” Rehman told the house. “Everyone should be given a chance to speak on this important issue, as India atrocities against the Kashmiris are increasing day by day,” she added.

Rehman then targeted the government as she raised the issue of cases against the opposition leaders and their arrest. “The ministers target the opposition on a daily basis. In this situation, what can be discussed? the PPP senator told the house.

On the other hand, she continued, NAB had opened inquiries against 18 ministers but they were not being sent on remand. “At present, former opposition leaders Khursheed Shah, Shahbaz Sharif and Hamza Shahbaz, Khawaja Asif are all in jail.”

“Look at the foreign funding case and the BRT [bus rapid transport] project. The courts have questioned the Billion Tree Tsunami [project] but there is no accountability here. There was open rigging in the Gilgit-Baltistan election. But only opposition is being pushed to the wall,” she added.

Referring to the protest by the Hazara community in Quetta after the killing of 11 miners in Machh, Balochistan, she said that the protester had not buried their dead in Balochistan, where is your chief minister. Balochistan is pushed to the wall.

Speaking next, Musaddiq Malik asked the government to share its strategy on Kashmir with the opposition. He also criticised the arrest of opposition leaders and NAB’s inaction over BRT, Malam Jabba and other cases.

“[There is Rs24 billion EOBI [Employees Old-Age Benefits] case, but there is silence, there’s silence on Malam Jabba and BRT cases,” he said, adding that only those were being arrested who raised their voices regarding these scandals.

Continuing, he said that the opposition was not afraid of jails and challenged the government to put them behind bars but “at least you do something” about controlling price hike and inflation and the rampant poverty.

Later, the house passed a resolution against the illegal detention of Asiya Andrabi moved by Raja Zafarul Haq. The resolution called for the release of Andrabi. The session was adjourned till 10.30 am on Friday.

(With input from APP)