Rejects division of IoK, vows to continue struggle for right to self-determination
By Javed Iqbal
Islamabad:(Parliament Times) While condemning the Indian move of changing the constitutional status of occupied Jammu and Kashmir the participants of All Parties Conference on Friday termed the move as a flagrant violations of the UN charter and the UN Security Council resolutions on Kashmir.
The APC hosted by government of Azad Jammu and Kashmir at Kashmir House was attended by Kashmiri leaders hailing from both sides of the line of control as well as the Pakistani leaders including PML-N Parliamentary Leader Raja Zafar ul Haq and Chairman Kashmir Committee Syed Fakhr Imam participated in the special.
Addressing on the occasion speakers observed that abrogation of Article 370 and 35 A by the government of India was a nefarious attempt to change the geographical identity of the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir, which they said has created a constitutional crisis. Dividing occupied Jammu and Kashmir into two separate territories they said that the fragmentation of the State on communal lines was tantamount to insulting the intellect of Kashmiris. Taking strong exception to India’s illegal and unlawful actions the speakers said that India’s move was an open violation of the UN Charter and Security Council resolutions.
“Occupied Kashmir has been turned into a military garrison whose connection to the outside world has been cut off by resorting to crippling communication blockade”, they said adding that India had chocked every dissenting voice in the region whereas pro-freedom leaders have been thrown behind the bars. Terming it as worst kind of state terrorism they said Indian actions could cause a great human tragedy in the state. Such kind of actions they said could not deter Kashmiris from pursuing their collective cause for which they have rendered unprecedented sacrifice during the past several decades.
The participants of the conference through a joint resolution urged the government of Pakistan to declare withdrawal from all bilateral agreements with India, including the Shimla Agreement, organize aggressive diplomatic campaign to mobilize the UN and effective international organizations.
The APC declaration said that a march towards the Cease Fire Line would be arranged soon to express complete solidarity with the people of occupied Jammu and Kashmir. Moreover, the declaration said that protests would be organized in major world capitals, including London, Brussels, New York and Washington to galvanize international support.
At the end of conference Prime Minister Azad Jammu and Kashmir Raja Farooq Haider Khan read a Joint Declaration media before the media, which states that the Indian decision of August 5, 2019, was a direct attack on the territorial integrity of occupied Jammu and Kashmir besides changing the disputed status of the state. “India’s move is a clear violation of the UN Charter and Security Council resolution number 122” the declaration said adding Kashmiri leaders and political activists, even civil servants, were being persecuted disappeared by the Indian state. The APC rejected any kind of division of the Occupied Valley and vowed to continue struggle till achieving right to self-determination.
Conference suggested that Pakistan and AJK flags should be hoisted at every building in Pakistan and Azad Kashmir to demonstrate unity and convey a clear message to the world that the people of Pakistan and Kashmir will not accept any option on the issue of Kashmir contrary to the UN resolutions and wishes of its people.
The APC paid glowing tribute to the Kashmiri martyrs and lauded the morale of Hurriyat leaders and workers who are facing tortures in Indian jails.
The conference was attended amongst others by Chairman Kashmir Committee Syed Fakhar Imam and Leader of the opposition in Senate Raja Zafar-ul-Haq.
Opposition Leader Chaudhary Muhammad Yaseen, former Prime Minister and leader of All Jammu and Kashmir Muslim Conference Sardar Attique Ahmed Khan, PTI AJK President Barrister Sultan Mehmood Chauhdary, Former Presidents Sardar Muhammad Anwar Khan, Raja Zulqarnain Khan, Former Chief Justice, Justice Syed Manzoor ul Hassan Gillani, PPP Vice President Chaudhary Pervaiz Ashraf, President Muslim Conference Mirza Shafique Jarral, Hurriyat leader Syed Faiz Naqshbandi, Uzair Ghazali, Yousaf Naseem, Mushtaq ul Islam, Syed Abdullah Gillani, Information Minister Raja Mushtaq Minhas, Ameer Jammat e Islami AJK Dr. Khalid Mehmood, Amir Jammiat Ullema e Islam Moulana Saeed Yousaf, Jammu and Kashmir Peoples’ Party’s Sheikh Fazal Kareem, Liberation Front’s Raffique Dar, AJK cabinet and Legislative Assembly members and other leader and representatives of different political and religious parties.
The APC expressed full confidence in the leadership of Prime Minister Raja Farooq Haider Khan.