IIOJK UK leaders meet AJK premier

PM Haq assures TeK president and JKSM leader of his support for their struggle

ISLAMABAD:

President Tehreek-e-Kashmir (TeK) United Kingdom Raja Fahim Kayani and Chairman Jammu and Kashmir Salvation Movement (JKSM) and All Parties Hurriyat Conference (APHC) leader Altaf Ahmad Bhat called on Azad Jammu and Kashmir PM Chaudhry Anwarul Haq on Monday.

Both discussed the matters related to the ongoing liberation movement in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) and issues of overseas Pakistanis and Kashmiris settled in the UK.

Last week, Had had expressed deep concerns over the alarming political and human rights conditions in IIOJK.

Calling for immediate attention, the AJK PM implored global leaders to take effective cognizance of the rampant state-sponsored terrorism by Indian forces in the region.

Prime Minister Haq condemned the ongoing bloodshed and violence that continued to plague the restive territory.

He highlighted the grave atrocities committed by Indian occupation forces, including what he termed as “genocide” and “ethnic cleansing” of Kashmiri civilians.

Drawing attention to the urgency of the situation, the prime minister called upon the United Nations and other international organisations to intervene and put an end to the ruthless killing of innocent Kashmiris.

He accused India of implementing an apartheid regime and breaking records of barbarism and brutality in the occupied territory.

Citing the revocation of occupied Jammu and Kashmir’s special status on August 5, 2019, the AJK PM raised concerns about India’s attempts to alter the region’s demography through the issuance of fake domiciles to ex-servicemen and non-state residents.

During the meeting today, the premier hailed the role of overseas Kashmiris in promoting the Kashmir cause in the UK and Europe.

"The way overseas Kashmiris are highlighting the sufferings of the people of IIOJK is commendable and it should be expanded at a global level to hold India accountable before the world community for her crimes against humanity,“ he said, adding that Pakistan and AJK are committed to supporting their Kashmiri counterparts across the border politically, morally and diplomatically.

The premier assured Kayani that he will continue to talk about and raise the issue of the sufferings of Kashmiris at every forum. He said we have never accepted the Line of Control (LoC) and nobody on the planet can stop me or any other Kashmiri to cross this bloody border and move between IIOJK and AJK.

Read Int’l community urged to halt Indian brutalities in IIOJK

“We will never compromise on the plebiscite," said Haq, stressing that retired armed men of AJK - of which, he said there were nearly 0.2 million - will never tolerate the suffering and exploitation of people of the IIOJK.

"They are ready to help their oppressed brothers and sisters in IIOJK.," he continued, "the world community and other global powers must come forward and end the exploitation of IIOJK where people are fighting for the implementation of UN resolutions on Jammu and Kashmir”.

“The freedom that the people in AJK are enjoying cannot be imagined in IIOJK and through this freedom, we want to invite the world to bear witness to the differences between the two sides of Kashmir. The fight for the right of self-determination is the mission of my government and for this sacred cause all available resources would be utilised,” the AJK premier furthered.

PM Haq also spoke about the performance of his government which has completed 100 days in office. He said that he had been working tirelessly around the clock to put the governance of AJK in order and ensure that the region's infrastructure is pro-public and productive.

"We have big challenges in governance and infrastructure but very soon the people will know how hard we have been trying to put it in line to make AJK a model in terms of governance," he said.

The doors for the politics of government employees and unions have been closed once and for all," he said. "Forest cutting has been banned to meet the environmental challenges. The expenditures of the prime minister's house and offices have also been slashed from a monthly cost of Rs12.5 million to Rs1.2 million. The 30 vehicles of the prime minister’s motorcade have also been reduced from 30 to 4 vehicles which is a good start. A lot is still in the store to come for the betterment of AJK."

Haq assured the TeK UK president that all overseas investors who want to invest in AJK would be provided a conducive environment. The expatriates are an asset to Pakistan and we hope they will continue their contribution to make Pakistan economically stable which premier Haq said is the need of the hour.

The TeK UK president briefed the premier about the role of overseas Pakistanis and Kashmiris in the Kashmir liberation movement and the economy of the UK. Pakistanis and Kashmiris settled in the UK are playing a pivotal role in the economy and national integration of the UK which has also been admitted and hailed by their government, he said.

Kayani added that overseas Kashmiris will continue to play their role in the uplift of the UK and were ever-ready to lend support to Kashmiris in their struggle for achieving their right to self-determination.

On the occasion, JKSM chairman and APHC leader Bhat thanked the premier for his undaunted support for the ongoing freedom struggle in IIOJK.