Black day observance: In unanimous resolution, MPs champion Kashmiris’ rights

Lawmakers also condemn bid on Maulana Fazlur Rehman’s life

ISLAMABAD:

Federal lawmakers capped a countrywide black day observance against Indian aggression in Jammu and Kashmir on Monday by passing a unanimous resolution in favour of the territory’s right to self-determination.

The resolution – one of two unanimously passed by lawmakers during the day – was moved by Minister for Kashmir Affairs Barjees Tahir.

“On the occasion of Kashmir black day, the National Assembly of Pakistan reiterates its continued political, moral and diplomatic support to the just struggle of the people of Jammu and Kashmir towards achieving their right to self-determination enshrined in numerous United Nations Resolutions,” it said.

It also salutes the valiant people of Jammu and Kashmir for resisting the Indian occupation, despite atrocities perpetrated by the Indian security forces with impunity.

Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly Khursheed Shah said that a political party had also sabotaged a Kashmir solidarity day event in London which was also part of the conspiracy that promotes the Jewish agenda in Pakistan. Shah said that India had recently purchased weapons from Israel and this lobby was working on this agenda.

Another unanimously adopted resolution condemned the suicide attack on JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman in Quetta on October 23. Members of the lower house claimed that certain forces were pursuing an agenda aimed at pushing the country towards uncertainty by targeting moderate political and religious forces.



Maulana Fazl said he believes the attack was an attempt to silence the moderate religious and political voices with society. Just as he entered the house for the first time since the botched attempt on his life, he was warmly welcomed by his fellow parliamentarians who condemned the attack on him.

“Whatever lawlessness and anarchy is going in the Middle East at present is also being introduced in the Afghan areas as well as in our Pashtun belt,” he said. According to him, the war on terror is not our need, rather it is the need of the US and we were being pushed towards it. “Our sin is that we talk of democracy, peace and constitution, but the international forces want to see chaos and anarchy in our country to pave way for interference,” he observed.

He said that our moderate role is not acceptable for them and media also highlights the violent forces as the representatives of Islam which spread terrorism and that is the core agenda of the conspiracy.

For the last two years, Maulana Fazl said, certain political forces are promoting Jewish culture in Pakistan. He pointed out that the recent establishment of Israel’s stall at an event of the Islamic International University was also a part of the same agenda. The cleric claimed that he along with other moderate political forces had foiled not only a mysterious sit-in, but also exposed the heinous London conspiracy plan against Pakistan.

He held out the bureaucracy ‘equally culpable’ for promoting this international conspiracy against Pakistan. “Despite all the violent acts against me, my workers neither opted to the violent path neither will do in future aimed at defeating those forces which are against existence.”

He also sought unity among all the moderate political and religious forces to defeat the conspiracy against Pakistan and its survival from within the parliament.

Defence Minister Khawaja Asif said that there is a crucial need to promote moderate forces to save Pakistan from being another Iraq, Libya and Syria. “Everyone has their eye on Pakistan, the only Islamic country that is a nuclear power and that has a functional constitution and democracy.”

Referring to PTI and PAT sit-ins, he said the people at the D-Chowk are the workers of those anti-Pakistan forces and don’t want to see a stable, peaceful and progressive Pakistan. Asif also targeted media for promoting the violent and extremist forces by portraying them as heroes.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 28^th, 2014.