Brussels: Chairman Kashmir Council Europe (KC-EU) Mr Ali Raza Syed termed the exchange of views on human rights in Indian Held Kashmir in a special public meeting arranged by Sub-Committee of Human Right of the European Parliament as a significant development in the context of Kashmir issue.
It is important to mention that the sub-committee on Human Rights of European Parliament hosted this official meeting on human rights situation in Indian Held Kashmir (IHK) on Tuesday, 19th February 2019 in Brussels. Such formal gathering on Kashmir was for the first time after 2007 during which the issue of Kashmir was discussed publically at the EU parliament.
Chair’s KC-EU Ali Raza Syed, who attended this gathering along with Prime Minister of Azad Kashmir Raja Farooq Haider Khan, in a statement said, this historic gathering on human rights violations of the Kashmiris at the EU parliament would have a great impact in Europe in the context of rights of the oppressed people of Jammu and Kashmir.
The Tuesday’s discussion at EU parliament Sub-committee specifically focused on the June 2018 report of the United Nations’ Office of High Commissioner on Human Rights (OHCHR) on Kashmir. Ms. Christine Chung, one of the authors of the report, who was specially invited for the occasion by the sub-committee, in her comments, highlighted the terrible human rights situation in the Indian-occupied Kashmir and reiterated the OHCHR’s recommendations for establishing a commission of inquiry to conduct a comprehensive and independent international investigation of human rights violations in Kashmir. Participants of the gathering praised the report and emphasized for implementation of its recommendations.
Ali Raza Syed also highly appreciated the efforts of member of European parliament (MEP) Mr Wajid Khan for effectively raising Kashmir issue in Europe, specially his efforts for convincing this important meeting on Kashmir issue.
People of Kashmir are truly grateful to MEP Mr Wajid Khan and others for their sincere efforts on the issue of Kashmir, said Chairman Kashmir Council EU Ali Raza Syed. The meeting on the human rights violations in Kashmir at EU’s parliament human rights committee is an international recognition of rights of the people of Jammu and Kashmir, he said.
Initially, in a meeting with chair of the European Parliament’s Subcommittee on Human Rights (DROI) Mr Pier Antonio Panzeri, the Prime Minister Azad Jammu and Kashmir Raja Farooq Haider Khan raised the issue of human rights violations in IHK on a proposal of Kashmir Council EU on October 12, 2017. Later on, AJK’s PM, who became chief guest of annual Kashmir EU Week for last three years arranged by Kashmir Council EU at EU parliament sent a letter to the chair of the subcommittee once more requesting him for a debate on human rights violations in IHK The Prime Minister dispatched another letter addressing Chair of the European Parliament’s Subcommittee dated April 14, 2018 again drew his attention towards human rights violation in IHK.
Chairman Kashmir Council EU also appreciated the efforts of AJK’s PM Raja Farooq Haider Khan and other individuals and organizations on Kashmir issue in Europe, especially MEP Dr Sajjad Karim and former MEP Afzal Khan as saying KC-EU is sincerely grateful to the individuals and organizations.
A seminar was also hosted by MEP Mr Wajid Khan at EU parliament on Tuesday during which he appreciated the efforts of AJK’s PM Raja Farooq Haider Khan and Kashmir Council EU on Kashmir issue.
Chairman Kashmir Council EU urged the international community to take necessary measure in order to stop human rights violations in IHK. The world community specially United Nation and EU should come forward and take step for a peaceful resolution of Kashmir issue.