NA asks India to revert IIOJ&K status to disputed territory

ISLAMABAD: The National Assembly on Tuesday unanimously passed a resolution underscoring Kashmir’s status as the oldest unresolved dispute on the United Nations Security Council’s agenda.

The resolution emphatically urges India to implement the UN Security Council resolutions, paving the way for the Kashmiri people to exercise their democratic right to self-determination through a fair and impartial plebiscite under the UN’s supervision The resolution moved by Minister for Kashmir Affairs, Engineer Amir Muqam, strongly condemned and rejected provocative statements from Indian civilian and military leadership regarding Azad Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan (GB).

The lower house of the Parliament also reaffirmed Pakistan’s unwavering moral, political and diplomatic support for the Kashmiri people’s right to self-determination. The resolution paid glowing tributes to the valiance and sacrifices of Kashmiri people. It called on India to improve the human rights situation in the Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK), release detained Kashmiri leaders and revoke all oppressive laws.

Strongly condemning India’s blatant human rights violations in the IIOJK and the illegal actions taken on 5th August, 2019, the resolution emphasized that no political process in theoccupied territory could substitute the Kashmiri people’s right to self-determination. It underscored that resolving the Jammu and Kashmir dispute in line with the UN Security Council resolutions and the aspirations of the Kashmiri people is vital for ensuring peace and stability in South Asia. The National Assembly also noted that February 5 is observed as ‘Kashmir Solidarity Day’ every year to express continued resolve to support Kashmiris right to self-determination.

In his remarks, Minister for Kashmir Affairs and Gilgit-Baltistan & SAFRON, Amir Muqam said the UN must play its role in resolving Jammu and Kashmir dispute. He reiterated that the people of Pakistan stand firmly by their Kashmiri brothers and sisters.

Earlier, the parliamentarians of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) became part of the unanimous passage of a resolution in support of Kashmiris of the Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) in the National Assembly. PTI’s chief whip, Aamir Dogar meanwhile drew parallels of the alleged ‘victimization’ of his party leaders and workers here in the country with state repression in IIOJK.

“India is violating human rights violations in IIOJK but the same is the prevailing in Pakistan for the last two and half years and there is law of jungle in the country,” PTI’s Chief Whip Amir Dogar while speaking on a point of order after passage of the resolution said. He said that leaders and workers of PTI have been facing worst kind of fascism, aggressive and brutal acts for the last two and half years. “Will anybody also speak about such violation of human rights,” he said adding that at present hundreds of PTI workers were imprisoned. Despite this, he said the PTI workers would continue to stand with party’s imprisoned founder for their rights and to achieve real freedom.