Altaf Hameed Rao
MIRPUR (AJK): On International Human Rights Day, on Sunday, Kashmir hailing form both sides of the line of control demanded the world human rights organizations to take effective notice of flagrant violations of human rights committed by Indian occupation forces in the UN recognized disputed territory of Jammu and Kashmir.
Special ceremonies were held in various parts of AJK including in Mirpur division under the auspices of various Human Rights Organizations with the coordination of the members of the civil society to mark the day. Addressing these ceremonies speakers emphasized the need of making collective efforts by the international community to ensure the complete protection of human rights all over the world particularly in those areas where the people were being denied their due rights.
Speakers called for the measures by the international human rights outfits to move for ensuring the grant of basic human rights in the areas including in the strife-torn Indian held Jammu Kashmir state where the masses comprising all segments of the civil society were being denied their due human rights – including Kashmiris globally-acknowledged birth right to self determination.
In Mirpur, a walk by the human rights activists was the hall mark of the day. Participants marched through city streets shouting slogans for the vibrant role of international human rights organizations to save innocent people of occupied Jammu & Kashmir from the ongoing and increased Indian reign of state terrorism.
Addressing a meeting of senior journalists here on Sunday on the eve of the world human rights day on Saturday, Convener of International Union of Kashmiri Journalists and Member BoD of the renowned registered Kashmiri NGO – Center For Peace, Development & Reforms A.H.Nizami, Research analysts and Sr. Kashmiri Journalists including Hafiz Muhammad Maqsood, Sohrab Ahmed Khan, Khawaja Zaffar Iqbal, Prof. Sagheer Ahmed Aasi and others vehemently condemned the continued rather increased human rights violations against the innocent Kashmiris including the media in the occupied Jammu Kashmir at the hands of the Indian occupation forces. He also vehemently condemned the brutal tactics to suppress the voice of press in occupied Jammu & Kashmir.
Speakers strongly condemned US President Trump recent move of acknowledging occupied Jerusalem as the capital of Israel through announcing to open his country’s embassy there. Speakers termed Trump’s act a blatant violation of human rights to encourage the perpetuation brutal Israel’s unlawful occupation of Palestine including its capital town of Jerusalem, unwarranted, uncalled for hurting the religious feelings of Muslim ummah and the human rights loving nations the world over, they added.
They called upon the world community to take immediate notice of the fast raising human rights abuses as well as continued reign of violence unleashed against the innocent people including journalists by the Indian troops in occupied valley.
Another ceremony to observe the world human rights day was observed at Ali Day Care Sector in sector C-4, where speakers including a local NGO’s Supremo Raja Sajid Mahmood and others called upon India to immediately stop the barbarous activities in the occupied state and instead positively respond to make the dialogue process with Pakistan result oriented in order to ensure the early peaceful resolution of all the outstanding differences especially the core issue of Kashmir through grant of the basic human right of self determination to the people of the state committed by the international community, they added.
Speakers reiterated the long standing demand by Jammu & Kashmir people grant them the opportunity to determine their future in accordance with their wishes and United Nations resolutions.
They called upon the world community especially the international organizations claiming to be the champions and custodians of human rights the world over to play a due constructive role for a just solution of the Kashmir problem without further delay. The international community realizes the gravity of the situation in South Asia and offered their help for resolution of this longstanding issue, they added.
