Daily Times

Terming revocation of special status of Kashmir on Aug 5 last year as illegal and unconstitutional, the Senate on Wednesday expressed resolve on behalf of people of Pakistan to continue extending unwavering political, diplomatic and moral support to Kashmiris struggling for their inalienable right of freedom from the clutches of India.

After moving a motion to discuss the one year of unprecedented atrocities, genocide, blatant human rights violations and complete siege of Indian occupation forces following the amendment in Indian constitution, which changed the special status of Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK), Advisor to the Prime Minister on Parliamentary Affairs Zaheer ud Din Babar Awan said the whole nation stands united with the Kashmiri brethren in this hour of need. He said Pakistani and Kashmiri people across the world have observed Youm-e-Istehsal to express solidarity with the oppressed Kashmiri people on completion of one year of military siege of IIOJK.

Sherry Rehman of PPP said India has illegally occupied Kashmir and the innocent Kashmiri people are facing military siege of Indian illegal occupant forces. She said self-determination is a basic right of people of Kashmir and she appealed to the west to play their due role in resolving the longstanding issue. She said India under guise of COVID-19 imposed sanctions on media and new laws were enforced to persecute people who raised voice against the Indian occupant forces.

Abdul Ghafoor Haideri of JUI-F said the innocent Kashmiri people were facing unabated atrocities for the last 72 years. He said India put aside all UN resolutions and Simla and Lahore agreements by abrogating the Article 370 and 35 A. Neither UN nor any others raised voice against this India’s illegal action, he added.

Minister for Narcotics Control Azam Khan Swati said that Kashmir issue should be resolved as per the resolutions of United Nations and according to the aspiration of the Kashmiris. The liberation of Kashmir is the liberation of humanity, he said.

Senator Siraj-ul-Haq appreciated the Senate chairman for calling special session to discuss the Kashmir issue and said it will give a message to Kashmiris that the whole nation of Pakistan was standing with their brothers.

Senator Farooq H Naek termed August 5 action of India as illegal and against the international laws. He said that India always violated the international laws. The government of Pakistan should effectively highlight violation of human rights in IIOJK, he added.

Senator Raza Rabbani said the picture of Kashmiri boy sitting on chest of his dead grandfather in Kashmir could not be forgotten by the world. He said thousands of Kashmiris were imprisoned but they did not leave the path of freedom.

Minister for Foreign Affairs Shah Mehmood Qureshi said the nation had wholeheartedly and completely rejected India’s August 5 measure of revoking special status of IIOJK. He said India had lost the battle to win hearts and minds of Kashmiris and it caused damage of billions of rupees to the economy in Kashmir. He appreciated the opposition parties for rising above partisan interests on the issue of Kashmir. He said the criticism of opposition was well received as it also wanted success of the Kashmir freedom movement.