ISLAMABAD: National Assembly Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq has said that the illegal occupation of Kashmir by Indian forces is a most tragic chapter of history and their struggle for self-determination right cannot be silenced by use of force.
In his message on Black Day being observed across the globe on October 27 against the illegal occupation of Kashmir by Indian forces in 1947, the speaker said that the Kashmir dispute is a burning issue and an unending threat to the not only regional but also world peace. He urged the international community to play its due role in ending the atrocities and human rights violations by Indian forces in Indian held Kashmir (IHC) and to ensure a peaceful settlement of the issue.
Expressing solidarity with the people of IHC, Sadiq said that Pakistan’s relationship with Kashmir was based not only on religion, civilization and humanity but also on blood.
He said that Pakistan firmly committed to finding out a just and peaceful solution of Kashmir dispute in accordance with the United Nations (UN) Security Council Resolutions and the wishes of Kashmiri people. He assured the people of Kashmir that Pakistan would continue to give them moral, political and diplomatic support at both regional and international forums till their objectives were realised.
He also condemned indiscriminate use of pellet guns on unarmed protestors, incidents of human rights violations, desecration of human lives, rapes, depriving children of their eye-sights, detention of Kashmiri leadership and imposition of curfews in the held valley.
He said that Kashmiris’ struggles for self-determination would not be silenced through violence. He expressed confidence that the sacrifices of Kashmiri people would not go in vain and that they would bear fruit.
In a separate message, NA Deputy Speaker Murtaza Javed Abbasi said that human rights violations had a long history in IHC and that the UN had declared it a disputed territory. He said that India had approached the UN itself, and had promised to honour Kashmiris’ right of self-determination and to hold a plebiscite in IHC.
Abbasi called for an end to human rights violations in IHC and urged the UN and Human Rights Organization to pay special attention to a peaceful settlement of Kashmir dispute, in accordance with the aspirations of Kashmiri people.