The Parliamentary Committee on Kashmir on Monday strongly condemned unprovoked firing by the Indian forces during the last three months, particularly on Sunday, when a women and a young boy were killed and another injured badly in Azad Jammu and Kashmir villages of Maal Gujran and Sehra villages in Khuiratta and Hajira subdivisions of Kotli and Poonch districts, respectively.
During its maiden formal meeting at the Parliament House under the chairmanship of Syed Fakhar Imam, the committee expressed solidarity with the Kashmiri people and said that coercion, violence and atrocities could never dampen the spirit of Kashmiri people for their right to self- determination.
The committee was briefed by Azad Jammu & Kashmir President Sardar Muhammad Masood Khan on the Kashmir dispute with its historical background and suggestion for the future strategy. While introducing the AJK president, the chairman mentioned him as a seasoned diplomat who had an authority on the Kashmir issue. Fakhar Imam briefly shed light on the Kashmir dispute since partition and also said that it was basically an unfinished agenda of the partition plan.
The AJK president gave a detailed overview of the Kashmir issue from all dimensions and also urged the committee to play its due role to further highlight the Kashmir issue in the international arena, while effectively using parliamentary diplomacy and the media. The members took a very keen interest in the proceedings, and made several suggestions and recommendations. The committee members also pointed out that the reports of the UN Human Rights Commission, UK Parliamentary Group and European Union Human Rights Committee may be discussed in the next meeting to formulate a comprehensive strategy for a future plan of action.
Towards the conclusion of the meeting, the members deeply appreciated the briefing of the AJK president and congratulated the chairman on assuming charge of the Parliamentary Committee on Kashmir. The meeting was attended by Nuzhat Pathan, Muhammad Akram, Sobia Kamal Khan, Muhammad Amjad Farooq Khan Khosa, Ghazala Saifi, Muhammad Sana Ullah Khan Masti Khel, Uzma Riaz, Naureen Farooq Ibrahim Khan, Khurram Dastgir Khan, Zaib Jaffar, Syed Mehmood Shah, Nawabzada Iftakhar Ahmed Khan Babar, Senator Mohsin Aziz, Senator Mir Kabeer Ahmed Muhammad Shahi, Senator Sherry Rehman and Senator Muhammad Ali Khan Saif, besides officials of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.