Kashmiri Diaspora must redouble its efforts to seek settlement of K-dispute: VC

Altaf Hameed Rao
MIRPUR (AJK): Vice Chancellor of the State-run Mirpur University of Science & Technology Dr. Habib ur Rehman here on Monday emphasized the need of vibrant role of the Kashmiri Diaspora community for raising the Kashmir issue at international level besides mustering maximum sympathies of the international community to seek an early settlement of Kashmir dispute through a free and fair plebiscite in line with the UN resolutions.

Prof. Dr. Habib ur Rehman made these remarks while speaking at a seminar titled ‘The Role of Overseas Kashmiris for Kashmir Cause and the Development of AJK’ hosted by his varsity – the MUST with the coordination of the UK-based Jammu & Kashmir Right of Self Determination Movement Europe at the varsity campus here late Monday. AJK President Sardar Masood Khan, who is also Chancellor of the MUST Varsity and the Kashmir-born Member of the British Parliament Ms. Naz Shah were the chief guest on this occasion.

Prof. Dr. Habib ur Rehman continued that the role of the Kashmir origin members of European and British parliaments in projecting the Kashmir issue, bringing it up at the parliaments floors and world human right organizations forums needs wide recognition. We understand that their efforts matter a lot and hope that they would continue working for the nation of Pakistan by promoting the Kashmir cause.

Overseas Kashmiris, he underlined, have attained present positions through hard work and continuing struggle made them able to win elections and sit in the European and British parliaments. “They have been highlighting the human right violations taking place in the Indian Occupied Kashmir and facilitating efforts for internationalizing Kashmir through their associations and elected representatives. There are many bright examples; two of them are of Motrama Naz Shah and Raja Najabat Hussain. We gratefully acknowledge the contributions of Motrama Naz Shah for the Kashmir cause”, he said.

The VC also applauded the contributions of Kashmiri expatriates’ elder Raja Najabat Hussain for the Kashmir cause, in particular, for facilitating participation of important people in the seminar/ conferences on the Kashmir issue.
Prof. Dr. Habib ur Rehman said that the overseas Kashmiris have not only been serving the Kashmir cause but also playing commendable role in the development of AJK. “What we have in Mirpur was due to them. This city is built with their hard earned money and world standard businesses developed due to them.”, he added.

“The expatriates also donate a lot charity to people and institutions in Mirpur. Kashmir Institute of Cardiology and Kashmir Orphan Relief Trust are worth mentioning examples”, he said. The VC said that the university will acknowledge their contributions in its publications and also recognize the contributions by naming the university products after names of their parent or other relatives. “It is indeed worthwhile recognition. Detail of the university products is available on the university website and also given in the brochure”, he added.

The MUST, Dr. Habib ur Rehman said, has been on the forefront in organizing seminars and conferences on Kashmir. “We are happy that we have been a part of the seminars and conferences and promoted academic discussions on the Kashmir conflict. We would continue playing our role by organizing the seminars and conferences on Kashmir as we consider that universities are the most suitable forums for such events”, he maintained.

The Vice Chancellor expressed the hope that the second of the seminars series on role of overseas Kashmiris for Kashmir cause and development of AJK would lead to encourage the already-extended great contribution and more active role of the Kashmiri Diaspora towards the Kashmir cause besides for development in the AJK – which is deeply acknowledge and appreciated, he added.

AJK President Sardar Masood Khan, member of the British Parliament Ms. Naz Shah, AJK minister for Sports, Culture, MDA and MDHA Ch. Muhammad Saeed, Chairman of the Jammu and Kashmir Self-determination Movement Europe Raja Najabat Hussain, Director Students Affairs MUST Prof. Shahid Amin and others also addressed the seminar which was also attended by the varsity academic staff, students, officials of the civil administration and senior journalists besides the visiting Kashmir-origin Councilors of various city councils of United Kingdom. The ceremony was also attended by Director General MDA Ch. Ejaz Ahmed Raza, Superintending Engineer AJK PWD Sardar Javid Ejaz, DC Ansar Yaqoob, SP Mirza Zahid Hussain, City’s elder and ex chairman MDA Chaudhry Muhammad Hanif and other senior officials of the district administration.