Int’l community urged to help end atrocities in IIOJK

To commemorate the revocation of articles 35A and 370 from Indian constitution, which deprived Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) of its special status, the Press Information Department Karachi, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, held a seminar on Tuesday.

The seminar was addressed by former diplomat ambassador (retd) Zaffarullah Shaikh, Dr Uzma Shujaat, faculty member at the University of Karachi, senior journalist Maqsood Yousufi while it was attended by students of the University of Karachi and officers of the MoIB.

While addressing the seminar, Mrs. Erum Tanveer, director general public relations, PID Karachi, welcomed speakers and participants and said that 5th Aug 2019 was a dark day in the history of human rights when people of IIOJK were deprived of their basic right of autonomy and indigenous nation.

She termed such revocation as a clear of violation of international law when India imposed its hegemonic design on the people of IIOJK and called upon the international community as well as all stakeholders to highlight such atrocities and collectively strive for the emancipation of Kashmir.

Dr. Uzma Shujaat spoke of India’s nefarious design of implementing the “Akhand Bharat” plan derived from RSS ideology. She identified rising Hindu majoritarian fundamentalism that is targeting its minorities especially Muslims. She said that India is no more a secular state; rather, it has become a Hindu extreme rightist state which is haunting the peace of the region.

Moreover, she highlighted India’s non-serious attitude towards resolving the Kashmir issue and called upon the international community, including the United Nations and the OIC, to play their role in resolving the issue. In addition, she urged policymakers to revisit old policies and strategies to meet renewed Indian aspirations.

Ambassador (retd) Zaffarullah Shaikh highlighted the Kashmir issue and confluence of Indians and Britishers in illegal occupation of Kashmir. He mentioned that Pakistan always wanted to have dialogue and peaceful resolution of Kashmir, but the Indian government never showed interest. He termed Kashmir strategically important and praised the armed forces for defending it. He also endorsed the suggestion that foreign policy needs to be revisited with input from think tanks, bureaucrats, academia, armed forces and other relevant stakeholders.

Maqsood Yousufi deplored gross human rights violations by India in IIOJK and said that occupied Kashmir had become a jail for Kashmiris and they (Kashmiris) were left with nothing but armed resistance. He also termed Kashmir vital for Pakistan’s survival and called upon the UN and the OIC to hold India accountable for its atrocities and injustices.

Khalid Mairaj Abassi, director PID Karachi, thanked speakers and participants for becoming part of the seminar and joining call for holding India accountable for its atrocities in IIOJK.