Daily Times

ISLAMABAD: The joint session of parliament on Friday unanimously passed a resolution against Indian atrocities in Indian-held Kashmir (IHK), urging the international community to carry out an independent investigation into gross human rights violations in IHK.

The joint session concluded on Friday with the passage of a unanimous resolution, moved by Adviser to the Prime Minister on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz. The resolution said that Kashmir was not an integral part of India while the allegations of neighbour state regarding involvement of Pakistan in Uri attack were condemnable. It was also mentioned that Pakistan would continue to support Kashmir politically, morally and diplomatically. Aziz also said that the international community accepts that the Kashmir issue was disputed.

While reading out the resolution, he said that 110 people have been martyred while dozens have sustained wounds due to the brutality of Indian forces in Kashmir so far. He also said that Pakistan rejected Indian claims of “surgical strikes” on Line of Control.

During the joint session, the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) asked the government some tough questions about its handling of the Kashmir issue. The PPP lawmakers criticised the government for what they said was its inability to build a strong case for Pakistan at international level.

PPP Senator Sherry Rehman said: “Kashmir is one of the most important issues for us regarding our foreign policy. You cannot build your foreign policy through one speech,” Rehman said, referring to Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s UNGA speech.

She echoed Aitzaz’s address to the joint session a day earlier, during which the premier failed to mention the Indian spy caught by military official’s months earlier. Sherry Rehman said, “Our army was fighting the largest inland war against terrorism in the world today and nobody knows about it. This is a failure of your diplomacy. You held a traditional All Parties Conference. You didn’t even do a DGMO briefing.”

Earlier, addressing the parliament, Senator Taj Haider addressing parliament said, “We should not move back from our point of view on Kashmir. We have to voice very clearly that a plebiscite in Kashmir is the only solution. We have to find a method to hold a free and fair plebiscite without any pressure on Kashmiris.”

The resolution also expressed concerns over the detention of Hurriyat leaders and human rights activists and urged the Indian government to release them. It strongly deplored the draconian laws which created an environment of impunity for Indian occupying forces. It saluted the courage and valiance of Kashmiri people for continuing their freedom movement against the worst kinds of Indian oppression. The resolution, while condemning the repeated ceasefire violations by India, applauded the unwavering commitment of armed forces for the defense of the country.

The resolution reiterated Pakistan’s desire for a result-oriented dialogue with India for resolution of all outstanding disputes including that of Jammu and Kashmir.

MNA Dr G G Jamal pointed out that a large number of the armed forces were deployed to the western border for Operation Zarb-e-Azb. “The world should know that India, indirectly, does not want Zarb-e-Azb to be successful. Indirectly, they don’t want terrorism to end, they are helping it,” he claimed.

Senator Chaudhry Tanvir Khan said the United Nations should fulfill its responsibility regarding the resolution of lingering Kashmir dispute. He said the Muslim countries should show unity on the plight of defenseless Kashmiri people. Senator Usman Kakar said the entire nation was united on the resolution of Kashmir dispute as per the aspirations of the Kashmiri people.

In his address, Senator Kamil Ali Agha, said: “Kashmiris are sacrificing but the world is not paying attention towards Indian atrocities in Held Kashmir.”