Siraj calls for joint strategy on Kashmir issue

Says JI to convene APC on 29th; leads march from
Rawalpindi to Indian HC; protesters stopped near Red Zone

ISLAMABAD: Strongly condemning the Indian atrocities in occupied Kashmir, Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) Ameer Senator Sirajul Haq on Sunday called upon the country’s political leadership to adopt a joint plan of action on the Kashmir issue.

Addressing a big ‘Azadi-e-Kashmir’ rally here, the top JI  leader also announced to convene an All Parties Conference (APC) on July 29 in the wake of the recent wave of state terrorism in Indian occupied Kashmir to unite the leadership of Pakistan at a single platform on the vital issue.

He also announced that a mammoth Azadi-e-Kashmir march would be held on July 31 from Lahore to Wagah border to show to the Indian leadership the support of Pakistanis to the struggle of people of occupied Kashmir.

The JI leadership had announced the march from Rawalpindi up to the Indian High Commission to register a protest against killings over 75 Kashmiris in recent days but the protesters were stopped by the Islamabad Police about one-and-a-half kilometer short of the Diplomatic Enclave.

Besides others who led the Kashmir march on Sunday, also included two senior Kashmiri leaders Syed Salahuddin of Hizbul Mujahideen and Ghulam Muhammad Safi of the All Parties Kashmiri Hurriyat Conference, Maulana Fazlur Rehman Khalil, JI Central Naib Ameer Mian Muhammad Aslam, Shamsur Rehman Swati and Zubair Farooq Khan.

The participants, which also included children and women while carrying party flags, banners and posters, were raising slogans in support of the struggling people of occupied Kashmir and against Indian atrocities in the valley which had also resulted in fatal injuries to thousands of Kashmiris.

Sirajul Haq regretted that the people of Azad Kashmir gave the mandate to the PML-N just three days back but the ‘Azadi-e-Kashmir’ rally was not allowed to proceed to the Indian High Commission. The law enforcing agencies blocked the entry of protesters in the Red Zone area by placing containers near the Nadra headquarters.

He alleged that by resorting to such steps i.e. erecting containers in the way of rally, the PML-N government wanted to give a message that it was behind the Modi government in India. He said the time had come that the government of Pakistan should take up the issue of plebiscite in Kashmir forcefully with the United Nations.

“As the people of occupiedKashmir consider them Pakistanis, we the people of Pakistan also take pride in supporting them,” he said.Senator Sirajul Haq also called upon the Pakistan government to immediately convene joint sitting of Parliament to discuss recent wave of Indian atrocities in Occupied Kashmir and adopt a joint strategy on the issue.

He said the United Nations and the western world would have to give up their double standards with regard to violation of human rights across the world. “It is true that the British prime minister condemned murder of Qandeel Baloch but should also have raised voice in support of suppressed Kashmiris in occupied valley,” Sirajul Haq said adding the UN should also come into action.

“The United Nations immediately acted in Sudan and Indonesia but why it is silent on the plight of Kashmiri people,” he questioned.