In-focus

Pakistan

President Arif Alvi demands India to uphold rights of Kashmiris

Dunya News

The president addressed a session of Azad Jammu and Kashmir's Assembly on Tuesday.

ISLAMABAD (Dunya News) – President Arif Alvi on the Kashmir Solidarity Day emphasized on Pakistan’s continued support and consistent stance on the Kashmir dispute, and demanded the Indian government to ratify the rights of the people of occupied Kashmir.

President Alvi addressed the Azad Jammu and Kashmir’s Assembly in Muzaffarabad where he demanded the Indian government to halt its false narrative of “killing militants’ in occupied Kashmir.

He said that all political prisoners should be freed and India must ensure freedom of expression.

Moreover, he stated that India must stop using firearms and pellet guns against innocent people and withdraw draconian ‘black laws’.

Importantly, he urged the Indian government to allow Hurriyat leaders to travel abroad for making their case on their own way.

He said that restrictions on electronic communications in IOK must be lifted so that international community and social media would know ‘what’s going on there.’

“I salute your struggle,” he said while addressing freedom fighters in their valiant struggle to achieve the legitimate right to self-determination in occupied Kashmir.

“It is our firm belief that Kashmiris will succeed in their struggle,” he went on to say.

Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan stated that the freedom movement in the occupied Kashmir has been strengthening every day.

“The conflict remained unresolved despite the passage of seven decades,” he said.

President’s message

Later, in a separate special message, the president explained the rationale behind observation of the Kashmir Solidarity Day by stating “5th February offers an opportunity to pay tribute to the unparalleled commitment of the Kashmiris for the attainment of the legitimate right to self-determination. On this day, the government of Pakistan and its people demonstrate to our Kashmiri brothers and sisters and the world at large that we have not forgotten the long-pending dispute of Jammu and Kashmir,and the struggle of the people of Indian-occupied Kashmir against woeful Indian occupation."

The president hit out at the international community s lack of interest to address gross human rights’ violations by Indian forces in Kashmir by stating "The indifference of the international community to these grave human rights atrocities by India raises doubts in the minds of Kashmiris, hinting at a double standard where every atrocity goes unpunished and every human rights violation, uncondemned."

"It reduces the UN Human Rights Charter to mere verbal rhetoric," he stressed.

"Behind its false narrative of  killing militants , India has been trying to justify its terrorism but has failed miserably," Alvi asserted.Alvi termed a report by the UN Office of the High Commissioner of Human Rights documenting human rights  violations in Kashmir as a "turning point and a watershed moment for the Kashmiri community all over the world".

He said Pakistan supports the proposals contained in the report and calls for the expedited establishment of a Commission of Inquiry to probe the human rights situation in IOK as per the report s recommendations.

"Pakistan ... pays homage to the heroes and martyrs of this epic struggle for liberation that has become a living symbol of the indomitable human spirit. Your cries for Azadi cannot be suppressed," the president said.

He reiterated Pakistan s "unflinching solidarity" with the people of occupied Kashmir, Radio Pakistan reported.

"We reassure our Kashmiri brothers and sisters that we will remain consistent in our principled position on Kashmir. The entire Pakistani nation stands with its Kashmiri brethren in their valiant struggle to achieve the legitimate right to self-determination," he added.

The UN Resolution on Kashmir, 1957, states: "The final disposition of the State of Jammu and Kashmir will be made in accordance with the will of the people expressed through the democratic method of a free and impartial plebiscite conducted under the auspices of the United Nations."
 

PM Khan’s message

Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan stated that the freedom movement in the occupied Kashmir has been strengthening every day.

“The conflict remained unresolved despite the passage of seven decades,” he said.

"Ruthless killings, pellet injuries to children and infants, rapes and torture; Indian atrocities in Indian-occupied Jammu and Kashmir continue unabated and so does the spirit and courage of Kashmiris in their fight to achieve the legitimate right to self-determination," he said.

"Thousands of innocent Kashmiris have been brutally tortured and extra-judicially killed during forced disappearances or illegal custody by the Indian occupation forces, which enjoy full immunity under draconian laws," he added.

The observance of Kashmir Solidarity Day commemorates the "strong and unflinching resolve of the Kashmiris to achieve the inalienable right to self-determination from Indian subjugation which does not weaken, rather strengthens with every passing day, and with each new act of Indian cruelty," the prime minister concluded.

Related Topics
Pakistan
India