Kashmiris observe India’s republic day as black day

Nisar Ahmed Thokar

APHC leaders presenting a memorandum to UN officials

Islamabad Jan 26: On the occasion of India’s Republic Day, the leaders of All Parties Hurriyat Conference (M) lodged a strong sit in protest demonstration in front of the UNMOGIP office in Islamabad today seeking international community’s proactive role to settle the long-running dispute of Kashmir through peaceful means.

Led by the amalgam’s chief Mehmood Ahmed Saghar, the protest demonstration was attended by PaK Information Minister Dr. Mehmood Riaz, Sardar Khalid Ibraheem Khan the chairman of Pakistan administered Kashmir based Peoples Party, representatives of the Kashmiri community and other Hurriyat representatives.

While highlighting the importance of K-solution, speakers on the occasion said that peace was inescapably linked to the settlement of Kashmir imbroglio. Owing to its (Kashmir) vulnerabilities they said that the world community should pay special attention to this issue as the conflict in this highly volatile region could prove disastrous for world peace.

Regarding Indian stance on Jammu and Kashmir they alleged that GOI’s intransigence and unrealistic approach was a stumbling block in the way of peace and stability in the region. They said that it was very unfortunate that India on one hand claims to be the largest democracy of the world while on the other it has usurped the fundamental rights of millions of Kashmiris.

Referring to human rights situation in Kashmir they said that the issue of enforced disappeared persons, extra-judicial killings and mass graves have exposed the Indian so-called democracy.  They urged the world human rights organization take effective cognizance of the issue.

Latter a memorandum was presented to UNMOGIP officials urging the UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon to appoint a special representative on J&K to take stock of the human rights situation in the region.

Urging India to honour its pledges and international commitments on Kashmir the resolution demanded India to implement the relevant UN resolutions in this regard.

APHC-G during a seminar at K-center 

Meanwhile, APHC-G also organised a seminar atKashmir centre Rawalpindiwhich was presided over by the amalgam’s convener Ghulam Muhammad Safi and attended by the other leaders including Ghulam Nabi Nowshehri, Shoukat Ahmed Bhat, and several others. 
The seminar was also addressed by the PaK information Minster Dr. Mehmood Riaz, Khalid Ibraheem Khan and JI leader Noor-ul-Bari.

GoI trying to hoodwink int’l community: Fazl-Ur-Rehman

DIALOGUE ON KASHMIR ISSUE

Nisar Ahmed Thokar

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Islamabad, Jan 24: Parliamentary Kashmir Committee chairman, Moulana Fazl-Ur-Rehman has alleged that under the garb of dialogue, the Government of India was trying to befool Kashmiris besides hoodwinking the international community.

Addressing the Committee members here at Parliament House on Monday, Fazl maintained that Kashmiris were demanding their right to self-determination, but it was very unfortunate that GoI had been sticking to its “dilly dallying policy intended to defer Kashmir solution.”

He warned the PPP led democratic dispensation to remain cautious about the “GoI’s game plan which was nothing, but to weaken Kashmiris’ ongoing struggle for right to self determination.”

He warned the incumbent regime not to enter into any kind of dialogue with India. “Getting engaged in a futile dialogue with India would be disastrous for the Kashmiris’ cause”, he added.

He however maintained that Pakistan was not adverse to dialogue but it has to meaningful, time bound and result oriented wherein a time-frame should be set to settle the long-pending Kashmir dispute.

Appreciating the UN human rights Rapporteur, Margaret Sekaggya’s  remarks on the human rights situation in Kashmir, he said that being the custodian of human rights, the highest body should play key role in bringing an end to alleged rights abuses thereby implementing the relevant resolutions on Kashmir.

Concerned over the HR situation, he said UN must take effective measures to settle the dispute peacefully once and for all.
 He also flayed BJP’s flag hoisting plan and termed it as a “childish demeanour.”

Kashmir core issue: Qureshi

NISAR AHMED THOKAR

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Islamabad Jan 20: The Foreign Minister of Pakistan Shah Mehmood Qureshi on Thursday reiterated that Kashmir was the core issue between India and Pakistan.

“Pakistan can’t just overlook or ignore the core issue of Kashmir and our principled stance in this regard is very much clear. There is no ambiguity whatsoever,” Qureshi said while addressing MC’s parliamentary session here, which was attend by the Prime Minister of PaK Sardar Attique Ahmed Khan and other members of the parliamentary body.

Terming Kashmiris as an important party to the dispute he said that Pakistan believes that participation of Kashmiris was must to find the everlasting solution to Kashmir issue.

He said that Pakistan and India have taken various Kashmir related CBMs which have been very fruitful and productive.

Referring to the recent mass uprising in Kashmir, Qureshi noted that the international community got sensitized as a result of the non-violent movement which was spearheaded by the Kashmiri youth who had no gun in their hands.

He was of the view that the intelligentsia and India civil society have raised voice in support of Kashmiris saying that Kashmir was a political issue that needs to be settled through peaceful means.

He said, “For permanent peace in the region we will have to sit-together and find out an amicable solution of Kashmir dispute in line with the UN resolutions keeping in view the aspirations of the people of Jammu and Kashmir. “We are willing to sit on the table but all outstanding issue have to be brought on the table”, he said adding that our stance regarding Kashmir should be no longer assuaging.

Regarding his much anticipated visit to India Qureshi said that the agenda of the meeting would be discussed and set by the foreign secretaries of both the countries who would meet at Thimpu Bhuttan on the sidelines of SAARC secretaries' conference to be held in next month. Not mentioning the date of his visit he said that his visit to Delhi was expected in the first quarter of this year.

In his opening statement PaK premier thanked FM Qureshi and expressed his gratitude for the continued political diplomatic and moral support to Kashmiris’ legitimate struggle.

He said the government of PaK would observe 2011 as the year of Right to self-determination in order to promote and project Kashmiris’ cause at international level.  Terming Kashmiris and Pakistanis as one in body and soul Khan said “that our destiny was one and the same”.

JI to host Kashmir Conference on Feb 3: Turabi

NISAR AHMED THOKAR

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Islamabad, Jan 19: In a bid to express solidarity with the people of Jammu and Kashmir, the Jamaat-e-Islami PaK is all set to host a grand Kashmir Conference in the first week of February in Islamabad.

“The National Kashmir Conference will be attended by the political leadership of Pakistan and the Kashmiri leaders hailing from both sides of the Line of Control (LoC)”, the JI chief Abdul Rashid Turabi said this while addressing a news conference here on Wednesday.

“Seminars and symposiums will be held in all district headquarters of Pakistan, Pakistan administered Kashmir (PaK) and Gilgit-Baltistan to express solidarity with Kashmiris,” he said.

Flanked by former MNA Mian Aslam and the JI leader Noor-ul-Bari, the JI chief called upon the people of Pakistan to stand by their Kashmiri brethren and observe the February 5 as Kashmir solidarity with full zeal and fervour.

Flaying the PPP led coalition government’s appeasing policy towards India Turabi said that the incumbent regime has maintained complete silence over the Samjota Express carnage which he said was orchestrated by the Indian secret agencies and executed by the activists of rightwing parties.  

Urging the government to shun its apologetic approach towards India on Mumbai attacks, Turabi asked the present regime to highlight Kashmir cause vociferously at international level.

Pakistan, he said, should not feel shy in raising Kashmir issue at the United Nations and other relevant international forums as the Kashmiri peoples’ struggle was a legitimate political struggle for the attainment of right to self-determination guaranteed to them by the world community and the leadership of India as well.

Just a ploy to deceive world: UJC

NISAR AHMED THOKAR

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Islamabad, Jan 15: Reacting to GK Pillai’s statement regarding forces reduction in Jammu and Kashmir, the United Jihad Council Chief Syed Sallahudin has said that it was India’s plot to deceive international community that there was peace in the region.

Talking to Greater Kashmir here on Saturday, the UJC Chief maintained that the statement was devoid of any weight and substance as on one hand ‘the Indian Home Secretary was talking of 25% cut in the forces deployed in the held territory while on the other Indian Army chief categorically turned down his assertions by saying that the Army was not aware of any troop reduction plan.’

“The contradiction in the statements speak volumes about the prevailing dichotomy within the political institutions and army establishment of India,” he said adding that Kashmiris’ stand was very much clear in this regard and people want complete withdrawal of the “occupation forces from Jammu and Kashmir.” “We have made it clear time and again that peace can not prevail in the region unless the people of Jammu and Kashmir are given their pledged right, the right to self-determination,” he said.

“Indians always tried to befool innocent people by promising troops withdrawal as a matter of fact there is no change in Indian attitude. Gruesome killings of innocent civilians and the unabated human rights violations in Kashmir by Indian troops expose India’s hegemonic designs and its belligerent mindset,” Sallahudin said and added that ‘India has never been sincere in resolving the dispute of Kashmir.’

The convener of APHC-M, Pak chapter, Mehmood Ahmed Saghar said that Indian leadership was in the habit of making and breaking promises. “Notwithstanding the international commitments and pledges made with the people of Kashmir Indian rulers always tried to hoodwink world community under various pretexts,” he said.

“This is just any eyewash to divert public opinion from the real issue”, Saghar said adding that Kashmiris want a permanent solution of the problem as these cosmetic and half-hearted moves won’t help to resolve the long-running dispute of Kashmir. Instead of wasting time he stated that Indian rulers should take serious measures to settle this dispute that was a major cause of tension in the region.

Tehreek-e-Hurriyat leader and convener of APHC-G, Pak chapter, Ghulam Muhammad Safi said that Indian Home Secretary hints at the reduction while Indian Army chief says that they do not feel any such need. “In such a scenario,” he said, “Kashmiris must stress on their demand of total withdrawal of occupation troops from Jammu and Kashmir and continue their legitimate struggle on all fronts.”

Terming India as an “expert of such gimmicks,” Safi warned the people of Jammu and Kashmir not to fall prey to “India’s nefarious designs.”

Give top priority to K-issue: Fazl

NISAR AHMED THOKAR

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Islamabad, Jan 13: The chairman of All Parties Parliamentary Kashmir Committee (APPKC) Moulana Fazl-ur-Rehman on Thursday asked the present dispensation in Pakistan to give top priority to Kashmir issue.

“Further delay in this regard would be detrimental for the region’s peace and security”, Fazl said this while chairing the committee’s special session here.

Fazl also urged the Foreign Office not to engage in any “useless dialogue” with India.  “Pakistan should neither beg for any talks nor should it engage itself in any kind of futile discussions with India”, he  said.

Voicing full support to Kashmiris’ struggle for right to self-determination, Fazl said that, Kashmir Solidarity Day would be observed on February 5 with fervor and enthusiasm across the country to express solidarity with Kashmiris.

He urged the provincial governments, social, religious and the civic bodies to participate in the programmes being arranged on the Solidarity Day. “On this day, the whole nation should come out to convey a strong message of support and allegiance with Kashmiris and their cause”, he added.
The Kashmir Committee has constituted a sub-committee that would chalk out programmes for the Solidarity Day. It has also decided to hold its meetings at provincial level to take the provincial leadership on board. The Committee has also decided to hold a National Conference on Kashmir, wherein the top political leadership of the country will be invited.

Deliberating on the prevailing political and human rights situation in Kashmir, members of the committee urged the world human rights bodies to take effective cognizance of human rights violations in Kashmir.

NRKs seek UN intervention

NISAR AHMED THOKAR

Islamabad, Jan 5: Non Resident Kashmiris (NRKs) on Wednesday urged the United Nations to discharge its moral and legal responsibilities vis-à-vis the implementation of the relevant UN resolutions on Kashmir.
 NRKs while speaking at a seminar organized by the PaK chapter of Hurriyat Conference (M) here said, “UN resolutions adopted by the highest body on January 5, 1949 besides granting legitimacy to the ongoing struggle upholds peoples’ inborn the right to self-determination enshrined in the UN charter.”
 The seminar was presided over by the Hurriyat-M convener Mehmood Ahmed Saghar and attended by other leaders of the amalgam. The seminar was also addressed by Jamat-e-Islami Chief Abdul Rasheed Turabi.
 Speakers accused India of violating the international norms of peace and justice by denying Kashmiris their inalienable  right to determine their political future.
 They said that India’s “obduracy” was in fact the major cause of tension in the region. They also paid rich tributes to the supreme sacrifices rendered by Kashmiris to achieve their cherished goal. They said that despite repressive policies India could not break the political resolve of Kashmiris.
 They said that being the custodian of peace and human rights the UN should take effective cognizance to bring an end to human rights abuses in the valley.
 On the occasion, the participants adopted over half a dozen resolutions demanding the UN and international community to impress upon India to help resolve the dispute by implementing the relevant UN resolutions.
 The resolutions demanded the UN to pressurize India to stop all kinds of violations in Jammu and Kashmir and asked the UN Secretary General to send a fact finding mission in Jammu and Kashmir to take stock of the HR situation in the troubled region.

Muslim Conference symbol of Kashmiris’ political integrity: Attique

NISAR AHMED THOKAR

Islamabad, Jan 2: Terming Muslim Conference as the voice of people of Kashmir, premier of Pakistan administered Kashmir Sardar Attique Ahmed Khan has said the party has been the symbol of political and ideological identity of the region.

Addressing a special secession of the MC’s central executive committee here today, Khan termed Muslim Conference as the pioneer and harbinger of Kashmiris’ ongoing struggle for right to self-determination.

He said that all out efforts would be made to achieve the prime objectives of the movement that was launched by the party stalwarts several years back.

Without citing the name of PML-N AJK chapter, Khan maintained that there was a dire need to strengthen the party cadres at all levels saying that the politics of non-state political organizations was against the interests of the people of the region and against the interests of Pakistan.

He lauded Sardar Abdul Qayyum Khan for granting dual citizenship and dual-vote rights to Kashmiri refugees saying it was the outcome of former premier’s political struggle that the rights were granted to Kashmiri-Muhajireen during the tenure of Yehya Khan.

“India’s unrealistic attitude was the main cause of tension in the region. Notwithstanding the international commitments,” he said that India has suppressed Kashmiris’ political struggle by unleashing death and destruction at unprecedented level.

He said that world was gradually realizing and recognizing Kashmiris’ struggle for their inalienable right, the right to self-determination. He pointed out that the United Nations, OIC and European Union have shown their serious concern over the human rights situation in Kashmir.