International Conference Seeks Special Envoy For JK, Release Of
NISAR AHMED THOKAR
Islamabad, May 5: An international conference hosted by Washington-based Kashmiri American Council (KAC) Monday said that Kashmir was an issue of right to self-determination “that gives people the power to decide their future without foreign interference.”
The International Kashmir Conference titled - “Is Kashmir an Issue of Election or Self-determination” - was attended by leaders of various political and religious parties of Pakistan, academicians, scholars, diplomats, parliamentarians, journalists and human rights activists besides Kashmiri leaders from both sides of the dividing line.
Presided over by Sardar Muhammad Yaqoob Khan, president Pakistan administered Kashmir (PaK), the conference was addressed by the chairman of Kashmir Committee Moulana Fazl-ur-Rehman, Sardar Zulfiqar Khan of KAC, Sheikh Waleed Rasool, chief coordinator of the conference, former PaK president, Sardar Anwar Khan, Jamaat-e-Islami PaK chief Abdul Rasheed Turabi, Barister Sultan Mehmood Choudhary, Ghulam Muhammad Safi, Mehmood Ahmed Saghar, Sheikh Tajamul Islam, executive director Kashmir Media Service, Syed Yousuf Naseem, Dr Syed Nazir Gilani, Ghulam Nabi Nowsheri, Altaf Hussain Wani, Rafique Ahmed Dar, Engineer Mehmood, Manzoor-ul-Haq, Mashal Yasin Malik, Nayar Malik and several others.
Dr Imtiaz Ahmed Khan, chairman of Kashmir American Council and professor of microbiology at George Washington University USA was chief guest at the conference.
Pertinently, the messages of Kashmiri separatist leaders Syed Ali Shah Gilani, Shabir Ahmed Shah, Muhammad Yasin Malik and Syeda Aasia Indrabi were also read out at the conference.
The speakers said right to self-determination was the cardinal principle of international law and the main axis around which the post colonial world revolves.
Regarding the elections the participants while referring to international covenants said that the world body (UN) in its historic resolution on 24 January 1957 made it absolutely clear that election could not be a substitute to Kashmiris’ inalienable right to self-determination.
They maintained that the people of Kashmir have time and again boycotted “farcical polls” in Kashmir. Elections, they said, has nothing to do with Kashmiris’ freedom struggle.
“Kashmir issue has a legal international dimension and needs to be addressed accordingly”.
The speakers also appreciated the selfless services and peerless contribution of veteran Kashmiri scholar Dr. Ghulam Nabi Fai for projecting Kashmir cause at international level.
The participants welcomed Pakistan Army Chief General Raheel Sharif’s recent statement on Kashmir wherein he stressed the need for resolution of Kashmir dispute in line with Kashmiris’ aspirations and in accordance with the United Nations resolutions.
Chairman of Kashmir Committee Moulana Fazl-ur-Rehman said there was no ambiguity in Pakistan’s Kashmir policy. “Pakistan over the years has been consistently supporting Kashmiris’ cause and raised the issue vociferously at international forums”, he said.
He said after 9/11 there has been a sea change in the world scenario. “The focus of international community got entirely shifted and the issue of terrorism became priority whereas the genuine freedom movements were dubbed as terrorist movements”, he said.
A declaration, issued at the end of conference, urged the United Nations Secretary General to appoint a special envoy of international standing on Kashmir to seek early and amicable solution of the lingering issue.
The resolution demanded release of all political prisoners languishing in jails in and outside Kashmir.
The participants expressed dismay that Kashmiri leaders, Syed Ali Geelani, Muhammad Yasin Malik, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and Aasiya Andrabi could not attend the conference because the necessary travel documents were not made available to them.
The International Kashmir Conference titled - “Is Kashmir an Issue of Election or Self-determination” - was attended by leaders of various political and religious parties of Pakistan, academicians, scholars, diplomats, parliamentarians, journalists and human rights activists besides Kashmiri leaders from both sides of the dividing line.
Presided over by Sardar Muhammad Yaqoob Khan, president Pakistan administered Kashmir (PaK), the conference was addressed by the chairman of Kashmir Committee Moulana Fazl-ur-Rehman, Sardar Zulfiqar Khan of KAC, Sheikh Waleed Rasool, chief coordinator of the conference, former PaK president, Sardar Anwar Khan, Jamaat-e-Islami PaK chief Abdul Rasheed Turabi, Barister Sultan Mehmood Choudhary, Ghulam Muhammad Safi, Mehmood Ahmed Saghar, Sheikh Tajamul Islam, executive director Kashmir Media Service, Syed Yousuf Naseem, Dr Syed Nazir Gilani, Ghulam Nabi Nowsheri, Altaf Hussain Wani, Rafique Ahmed Dar, Engineer Mehmood, Manzoor-ul-Haq, Mashal Yasin Malik, Nayar Malik and several others.
Dr Imtiaz Ahmed Khan, chairman of Kashmir American Council and professor of microbiology at George Washington University USA was chief guest at the conference.
Pertinently, the messages of Kashmiri separatist leaders Syed Ali Shah Gilani, Shabir Ahmed Shah, Muhammad Yasin Malik and Syeda Aasia Indrabi were also read out at the conference.
The speakers said right to self-determination was the cardinal principle of international law and the main axis around which the post colonial world revolves.
Regarding the elections the participants while referring to international covenants said that the world body (UN) in its historic resolution on 24 January 1957 made it absolutely clear that election could not be a substitute to Kashmiris’ inalienable right to self-determination.
They maintained that the people of Kashmir have time and again boycotted “farcical polls” in Kashmir. Elections, they said, has nothing to do with Kashmiris’ freedom struggle.
“Kashmir issue has a legal international dimension and needs to be addressed accordingly”.
The speakers also appreciated the selfless services and peerless contribution of veteran Kashmiri scholar Dr. Ghulam Nabi Fai for projecting Kashmir cause at international level.
The participants welcomed Pakistan Army Chief General Raheel Sharif’s recent statement on Kashmir wherein he stressed the need for resolution of Kashmir dispute in line with Kashmiris’ aspirations and in accordance with the United Nations resolutions.
Chairman of Kashmir Committee Moulana Fazl-ur-Rehman said there was no ambiguity in Pakistan’s Kashmir policy. “Pakistan over the years has been consistently supporting Kashmiris’ cause and raised the issue vociferously at international forums”, he said.
He said after 9/11 there has been a sea change in the world scenario. “The focus of international community got entirely shifted and the issue of terrorism became priority whereas the genuine freedom movements were dubbed as terrorist movements”, he said.
A declaration, issued at the end of conference, urged the United Nations Secretary General to appoint a special envoy of international standing on Kashmir to seek early and amicable solution of the lingering issue.
The resolution demanded release of all political prisoners languishing in jails in and outside Kashmir.
The participants expressed dismay that Kashmiri leaders, Syed Ali Geelani, Muhammad Yasin Malik, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and Aasiya Andrabi could not attend the conference because the necessary travel documents were not made available to them.
