PaK PM seeks global focus on Kashmir ‘atrocities’

NISAR AHMED THOKAR

Islamabad, July 3: The Prime Minister of Pakistan administered Kashmir (PaK), Raja Farooq Haider Khan, has urged the world community to take effective cognizance of “the worsening human rights situation in Jammu and Kashmir.”
“The UNSC and OIC must call an emergency session to take stock of the situation in Jammu and Kashmir”, the PaK premier told media-men after holding a meeting with APHC leaders in Islamabad today. Voicing serious concern over the recent killings, Khan said the world community should come forward in a big way to stop the widespread killings of civilians in Kashmir.
He also demanded that government of Pakistan should raise this issue with India. He said that it was quite astonishing to note that since the Indo-Pak secretary-level talks, violence in Kashmir had increased manifold. “India is following a vicious game-plan, on one hand it talks of peace and dialogue while on the other you see there is no let-up in human rights violations”, he said adding that killing of 9-year old child was the worst example of human rights violations. He urged India to bring an immediate end to human rights violations and release the political leaders including Syed Ali Geelani, Shabir Ahmed Shah and others.
He was of the view that under the prevailing circumstances there was no scope of dialogue. However, he maintained that Kashmiris were not averse to talks. “We are not against dialogue, we want that peace and prosperity should prevail in the region but let me make clear that this desire for peace would remain illusive unless Kashmir dispute is resolved.”
He stated that there was a dire need to have a meaningful and result-oriented dialogue amongst all the stakeholders to bring about a just and equitable solution of the long-running dispute.
Replying to a query, Khan said that Kashmir dispute was purely an issue of right to self-determination and it has nothing to do with terrorism. Regarding the ‘presence of militant camps in PaK,’ he said that Indians were in a habit of hurling baseless accusations against Pakistan.
Speaking on the occasion, the APHC-M convener Mehmood Ahmed Saghar thanked the PM for visiting the amalgam’s office. He said that India’s oppressive policy would not deter Kashmiris from pursuing their cherished goal.
As a mark of solidarity with Kashmiri brethren, the PaK premier earlier visited the APHC office in Islamabad and extended his heartfelt condolences and sympathies to Kashmiri families whose near and dear ones were killed during the recent wave of violence in Kashmir valley.
The leaders of both the Hurriyat factions were present on the occasion. During his two-hour long meeting with Hurriyat representatives, Khan assured his government’s full support to Kashmir cause.