NISAR AHMED THOKAR
Islamabad, July 19: The Kashmiri leaders hailing from both sides of the Line of control on Friday urged the newly sworn in government of Pakistan led by Mian Muhammad Nawaz Sharif to break its silence and raise Kashmir issue vociferously at international level.
Addressing a seminar hosted by APHC-M PaK chapter in connection with 19th July (Accession to Pakistan Day), the speakers on the occasion said that no doubt Pakistan was going through tough times but it does not mean that the government should compromise on the core issue of Kashmir or leave it on the backburner. “There can be no compromise on Kashmir and their inalienable right to self-determination,” they said.
“No Pakistani ruler or any political party can afford to ignore the Kashmiris’ legitimate right as the fact is that Pakistan itself came into existence through right of self-determination,” they said adding that any compromise whatsoever on this issue would tantamount to weaken the very foundation of Pakistan.
Highlighting the years’ long political struggle and the sacrifices of Kashmiris, they said that even in most difficult situations Kashmiris have remained steadfast on their resolve.
The speakers, however, regretted that the political leadership and the ruling elite of Pakistan has failed to acknowledge and endorse the Kashmiris’ spirit, their sense of belonging and their unconditional love for the state of Pakistan.
The participants of the seminar also denounced in strong terms the desecration of a Masjid, sacrilege of the Holy Quran and killing of innocent civilians by forces in Gool area of Ramban district and urged the world human rights bodies to take stock of the situation in the region.
They also demanded an impartial probe into the recent revelations made by an Indian home ministry official in which he disclosed the fact that Parliament and Mumbai attacks were orchestrated by none other than the Government of India. They also appealed the Government of Pakistan to raise the issue at relevant international forums so that real culprits behind this dirty game could be exposed and brought to justice.
The speakers through a unanimous resolution called for the inclusion of Kashmiri leadership in the Indo-Pak dialogue process. They also demanded the repeal of draconian laws enforced in the state.
The conference was attended by civil society representatives, trader’s community and the leaders of political and religious parties from across the line of control. Of those who spoke on the occasion included Barrister Sultan Mehmood Chudhary the former Prime Minister of PaK, JI leader Nur-ul-Bari, Sagheer Chugtai of Muslim Conference, APHC convener Syed Yousuf Naseem, Hassan-ul- Bana, Mehmood Ahmed Saghar, Altaf Hussain Wani, Saleem Haroon of JKLF, Sheikh Muhammad Yaqoob, Abdul Majeed Malik, Engineer Mushtaq Ahmed, Ejaz Ahmed Shah and several others, whereas Sardar Khalid Ibraheem son of Ghazi Milat Sardar Muhammad Ibraheem Khan (late) was special guest on the occasion.