Daily Times

ISLAMABAD – The Senate lawmakers on Thursday said that Pakistan would continue rightful support for Kashmiris’ against the Indian-held Jammu Kashmir.

They said that Pakistan wanted resolution of Kashmir issue according to the United Nations Security Council resolutions – giving Kashmiris their right to self-determination through a plebiscite. Talking to APP, PML-Q leader and Senator Mushahid Hussain Syed said that Pakistan would welcome a decision which was acceptable to the Kashmiris.

Mushahid said that the valiant and courageous people of Indian-held Jammu Kashmir have shown exemplary steadfastness in their struggle for freedom from Indian subjugation. He added that in the course they have gone through unimaginable sufferings and sacrifices.

According to the UNSC resolution, he said that the Muslim majority areas were to become part of Pakistan and the Hindu majority areas would be part of India. Mushahid Hussain further said that Pakistan never said Kashmir was its integral part but called it a disputed territory while India was continually declaring it as its integral part.

“Pakistani nation stood shoulders to shoulder with people of Kashmir in their struggle of freedom and right of self-determination,” he added. ANP leader Haji Adeel said that Pakistanis fully support the struggle of their Kashmiri brothers and sisters and I assure you that no solution against the will of Kashmir people will be accepted.

He said that Pakistan repeatedly said that without resolution of Kashmir issue, talks with India could not move forward and no confidence building measure could work. He added that unless Kashmir issue was resolved, the danger of war could not be mitigated as the issue was inflammable.

To a question, Adeel said that he had seen the conditions in which the Kashmiri refugees were living. PML-N senator Najma Hameed said that a human chain at Kohala bridge, Mangla bridge and other entry points linking Pakistan with AJK has been arranged. The Senators, the National Assembly members and the provincial assemblies will participate in the event.

“Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif vociferously raised the Kashmir issue at the forum of United Nations General Assembly for the last three years,” she said. She said that all the Indian efforts to defame the freedom struggle by labeling it as terrorism have failed miserably and rejected by the International Community.

Najma said that the right to self-determination is a revered principle of International Law. But even after more than 68 years, this fundamental right is being denied to the oppressed people of Indian-held Jammu and Kashmir despite the fact that this right was promised to them by the United Nations Security Council in its numerous resolutions, she added.

Senator Yousaf Badini said that Kashmiri people have shown heroic perseverance in waging struggle against the Indian yoke. He said that the Indian security apparatus, despite its appalling brutalities, can never crush their spirit and aspirations for freedom.

“All the Indian efforts to defame the freedom struggle by labeling it as terrorism have failed miserably and rejected by the International Community”, he added. Meanwhile it is pertinent to mention here that Ministry of Interior has declared February 5, as a public holiday. One minute silence will be observed at 10.00 hours to honour Kashmiri martyrs.