ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Minister for Kashmir Affairs and Gilgit Baltistan Amir Muqam on Sunday reiterated Pakistan’s moral, diplomatic, and political support to Kashmiris for their right to self-determination.
The Minister was addressing a joint news conference with All Parties Hurriyat Conference leaders in Islamabad. He said the Indian regime had attempted to alter the demography of the Indian illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) by revoking Article 370 and 35-A of the Indian Constitution on 5 August 2019.
The Minister further said India has been committing atrocities in the occupied Kashmiri since 1947 but it could not succeed in suppressing the freedom struggle of the Kashmiri people.
Amir Muqam said Youm-e-Istehsal will be observed across Pakistan tomorrow (Monday) against India’s illegal acts on the 5th of August 2019.
The Minister urged the United Nations (UN) to ensure the implementation of its Security Council’s resolutions on Kashmir. Muqam also called upon the Organization of Islamic Countries (OIC) and other human rights bodies to play their due role in ending the ongoing Indian oppression against innocent Kashmiris.
Amir Muqam said Kashmiris should be given an opportunity to exercise their right to self-determination through a UN-brokered plebiscite to decide their fate. He called on the international community to play its role in addressing the Kashmir issue.
The Minister said that Pakistan’s incumbent government was highlighting the Kashmir issue at all appropriate platforms around the globe effectively. He underlined that since August 5, 2019, to date in the last five years around 900 Kashmiri people have been killed, more than 2500 freedom fighters wounded and many widows have been arrested by Indian forces.
India is claiming the largest democratic state of the world but violating human rights and suppressing the self-determination rights of Kashmiris, he added.
The Minister asked all parliamentary parties to participate in the walk in Islamabad on the occasion of Youm-e-Istehsal-e-Kashmir on August 5. He said on August 5, 2019, the special status of Jammu and Kashmir was repealed by the Modi regime which will complete five years on August 5.
Amir Muqam said that on the occasion of Youm-e-Istehsal-e-Kashmir, protest walks and demonstrations have been announced against this illegal move of the Modi government in Pakistan as well as around the world.
The Minister appealed to all parliamentary parties to participate in the walk so that a clear message could be sent to India that the government and the people of Pakistan are united on the Kashmir dispute.
Amir Muqam said that the Indian actions were aimed at a process of demographic change and political engineering. As a result, he said that the Kashmiri people are confronted with the danger of becoming a disempowered community in their land.
“India has increased its oppression in IIOJK since August 5, 2019. Efforts are being made to silence the media. The genuine leadership of the Kashmiri people remains behind bars. The Indian authorities have sought the death penalty for one of the most renowned Kashmiri leaders, Yaseen Malik”, he said.
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The Minister said the harassment of innocent people, arbitrary detentions, ‘cordon and search’ operations, and extra-judicial killings have become a matter of routine. The Kashmiri people are unable to enjoy their freedom of expression and assembly. Most importantly, they are unable to exercise their inalienable right to self-determination, he said.
Amir Muqam said on this ‘Youm-e-Istehsal’, we salute the courage and valour of the people of IIOJK, who have rendered countless sacrifices in their struggle for the realization of their basic rights.
The Minister said Pakistan will continue to play its role to ensure a free and impartial plebiscite in accordance with the United Nations Security Council resolutions. “Our strong moral, political and diplomatic support for the Kashmiri people will continue till the realization of their inalienable right to self-determination”, he said.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has directed all provinces authorities including Gilgit Baltistan and AJK to befittingly observe Aug 5 Youm-e-Istehsal.
