NA passes resolution condemning Indian move to alter disputed status of IoK

The resolution condemned the deployment of additional troops in Indian occupied Kashmir.

ISLAMABAD (Dunya News) – Joint Session of the Parliament on Wednesday passed a resolution unanimously condemning illegal, unilateral, reckless and coercive attempt by India to alter the disputed status of Indian occupied Jammu and Kashmir, as enshrined in the UNSC resolutions, as well as the regressive measures to change Jammu and Kashmir’s demographic composition through repeal and revocation of article 35-A of the Indian constitution.

The resolution condemned the deployment of additional troops in Indian occupied Kashmir and Indian firing and shelling on the line of control and use of cluster bombs by Indian forces in Azad Kashmir.

It stressed that Jammu and Kashmir is an internationally recognized dispute on the agenda of the United Nations Security Council and categorically stated that these illegal measures cannot change the disputed status of Jammu and Kashmir.

The resolution opposed Indian plans to alter the demographic composition of Indian occupied Kashmir, as well as take away protective, inherent and established rights of Jammu and Kashmir to citizenship, permanent residence, acquisition of property, employment and education as provided under the repealed article 35-A of the Indian constitution and contrary to UNSC resolutions on the Jammu and Kashmir dispute and international humanitarian law.

Earlier, taking part in the debate, Federal Minister for Science and Technology Fawad Chaudhary said the world will feel the heat if India and Pakistan go to war over Kashmir and Pakistan will not let India change the demographic composition of Kashmir.

He demanded the federal government of Pakistan to terminate diplomatic relations with India – following the blatant move by Modi-led Indian government of revoking Articles 370 and 35A of the Indian Constitution which had secured special status for the people of Jammu and Kashmir.

Chaudhry said dead bodies should not be desecrated for political gains. 

India, Pakistan may get engaged in full conflict 

Federal Minister for Railways Sheikh Rasheed Ahmed expressed fear that Pakistan and India might get engaged in full conflict within next three to six months.

The minister addressed the session while condemning the Indian act, and said: “There are times when politicians take a wrong decision that leads to a new solution.”

“Now Kashmiri people won’t stay at their homes…this movement will now reach UP [Uttar Pardesh],” he said, adding that the Shimla agreement and the Line of Control (LoC) have been abandoned.

Sheikh further expressed his views that he could see a new structure of the freedom movement in occupied Kashmir.

“Now talks have been cancelled […] this is a declaration of war. India had lost two of its fighter jets in two months of fight […] until the presence of graveyards in Kashmir, the freedom movement will continue,” he said, adding that now India could launch an attack on Azad Kashmir.

He asserted that it would be seen how we [Pakistan] fights against Nazism and Hitler’s ideology.

Shireen Mazari’s address

Addressing the House, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader and Federal Minister for Human Rights Shireen Mazari said Indian attempts to change the status of occupied Kashmir are not only illegal, but they also defy the Geneva Convention which attributes any change in demographic composition of held territory as war crime.

She said with the revocation of Articles 370 and 35-A India has violated the Shimla Accord, the decisions of its superior courts and all international norms. Even the Supreme Court of India gave a ruling in 2016 that central government cannot change these articles without the approval of state government, she added.

Watch Video

Referring to Indian use of cluster bombs on innocent population in Azad Kashmir, she said both Pakistan and India are signatories to Convention on Cluster Munitions and India has violated this international agreement.

 

Our government has written a letter to UN High Commissioner for Human Rights and apprised of these violations of human rights. Our government has also demanded the UN to set up an independent investigative committee to find out the human rights abuses being committed in Indian held Kashmir, she told.

Raja Zafar-ul-Haq’s address

Speaking in the Assembly, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Raja Zafar-ul-Haq said that Kashmir dispute is a serious matter, adding that abrogating article 370 was Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) mandate. Pakistan should have also fulfilled its responsibility in Kashmir conflict, he asserted. The leader said that India had been preparing for this step for long and already paved the way for domestic and international public opinion in its favor.

He further said that all the energy is being used to suppress the opposition parties. Prime Minister Imran Khan’s telephonic conversations with his Malaysia counterpart and Turkish president are not enough to resolve Kashmir matter, he continued.

Haq continued to say that the UN Charters binds its members to avoid such steps that are discriminatory to native populations.

Maulana Asad Mehmood’s address

Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam Fazl (JUI-F) parliamentary leader Maulana Asad Mehmood said Pakistan stands with its Kashmiri brethren steadfastly. Strong message should be sent from Pakistan parliament that all political parties are on same page to condemn the Indian step, he stated. The leader said the international community should be persuaded to play a bigger role by forcing India to stop the oppression of innocent Kashmiri people. He further questioned that if the US with all its military might could not succeed in occupying Afghanistan, how could India do the same in Kashmir.

Siraj-ul-Haq’s address

Meanwhile, Jamat-e-Islami chief Siraj-ul-Haq said that the government should have summoned the session after full preparation, assuring that the opposition’s support in giving befitting response to India and Kashmir freedom. He further motivated the PM to take action regarding Kashmir matter as the people of Pakistan are with him. It will not be in India’s favor if it conspires to end the unity of the Kashmir, he asserted.

He urged the government to organize an international conference in Islamabad to effectively highlight the issue of Kashmir to the world delegates. Lives and death of Kashmiris are with Pakistan and they see their future with us, he concluded.

Mushahidullah’s address 

PML-N senator Mushahidullah Khan said that India has deployed over 7 lac forces in Kashmir, adding that huriyat leaders are either in Tihar Jail or under home arrest. He further responded to the Imran Khan’s NA address and said that the opposition sitting in the House is representing the whole nation. PM should develop courage to hear our criticism, he advised.

The leader claimed that Imran Khan had maligned opposition parties during his US visit. All the members in the parliament are elected not selected. If my address has hurt PM or his party leaders, I apologize, he stated.

Watch Video

Meanwhile, PTI leader Fawad Chaudhry and Mushahidullah exchanged barbs over criticizing the PM amid speaker’s warning to both leaders to sit on their seats.

Asif Ali Zardari’s address

Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari said that Indian decision has broken half part of the Kashmir, adding that Muslims living in the valley and India have fully understood the two-nation theory of Quaid-e-Azam. Kashmir dispute is of biggest importance after the separation of East Pakistan, he stated.

Watch Video

The former president went on to say that Kashmiri people are suffering due to the Indian atrocities as they are being attacked with pallet guns whenever they tried to come out of their houses. PPP expresses support and solidarity with the Kashmiris and demanded to end their pain, he continued.

The leader said that if this situation had occurred in our tenure, we would have resolved the matter by visiting neighboring countries and asking them for intervention.

Raza Rabbani’s address

Veteran PPP leader Raza Rabbani expressed fear that India will now do ethnic cleansing of Kashmiri population to strengthen its control on Kashmir.

He said this will be construed as state terrorism should India continues its policy unabated. Raza Rabbani said narrative on suppression of Kashmiris voices and their genocide by the occupying authorities must be promoted in the Western world.

He suggested to change the course of foreign policy in order to achieve meaningful results.

Raza Rabbani said an independent foreign policy based on Pakistan’s national interest and security, drawing the country away from the role of a client state, rebuilding Pakistan’s credibility in international corridors of power, refusing to accept India as regional policeman, stopping the realignment of foreign policy towards Washington and looking towards Asia as our future will result in diplomatic successes.

Khalid Khan Magsi’s address

Khalid Khan Magsi of Balochistan Awami Party (BAP) said, “We as a nation need to strengthen our identity and be able to convince the world of our viewpoint.” He said India is trying to strengthen its occupation and we should not be shied away from war, in order to stop this happening.