Quorum mars PA session on Kashmir Solidarity Day

LAHORE: Extremely thin attendance damped down Punjab Assembly’s special session to commemorate Kashmir Solidarity Day as neither the leader of the house nor the leader of the opposition showed up while only 45 out of 371 members attended the session.

The number of members from treasury benches was 35 while that of the opposition was eight; not a single member of Pakistan People’s Party attended the session, most likely because of the PPP public meeting scheduled at Mochi Gate.

The proceedings started one hour 25 minutes late at 3:25pm. Provincial Law Minister Rana Sanaullah was a no-show; therefore, Provincial Minister for Human Rights and Minority Affairs Khalil Tahir Sindhu presented the resolution for solidarity with Kashmiris.

The house unanimously passed a resolution pledging absolute political, moral and diplomatic support to the Kashmiris under Indian occupation while demanding their right to self-determination. The resolution demanded that the United Nations Resolution on Kashmir be implemented with immediate effect. It called for an urgent evacuation of the Indian armed forces occupying Kashmir and an end to the everyday brutality being inflicted on the people of Kashmir.

The resolution also demanded the international community to play a robust role in helping oppressed people of Kashmir and pledged that Pakistan will stand shoulder-to-shoulder with Kashmiris until they get their right.

Those who expressed their views in the session included Chaudhry Iqbal, Maulana Ghayas-ud-Din, Muhammad Rafiq, Mian Tariq Mehmood, Nosheen Hamid, Shehzad Munshi, Lubna Rehan, Rana Arshad, Raheela Anwar, Arif Abbasi, Nighat Sheikh, Waheed Gul and other members.

They delivered fiery speeches condemning the gross violation of human rights and international conventions by India in Kashmir. They criticised the global community’s apathy towards Kashmiris plight and called for an end to this dichotomy.

They expressed solidarity with Kashmiris and their right to self-determination according to the UN resolution under a mutually agreed impartial monitoring body.

They vowed to make Kashmir their priority agenda on all bilateral fronts with India. Both the government and opposition members, in their speeches, were on the same page for formulating an even more proactive approach to voice the misery of Kashmiris under Indian confrontation to the rest of the world.

The opposition and treasury benches almost came into confrontation when Jamaat-e-Islami MPA Dr Waseem Akhtar used insulting remarks regarding the Pakistan Muslim League-N president.

However, the speaker intervened and restored the order and harmony to the house while having the remarks expunged from the assembly proceedings.

Our correspondent adds: University of Engineering and Technology (UET) organised a walk to observe Kashmir Solidarity Day.

Vice-Chancellor Prof Dr Fazal Ahmad Khalid led the walk while faculty members and students participated.

The participants expressed solidarity with the people of Indian occupied Kashmir. They were carrying placards and banners inscribed with slogans in favour of Kashmir. Dr Fazal Ahmad said Kashmir was a core issue of contention between Pakistan and India and it must be resolved to bring peace and stability in the region.

He emphasised to empower the Kashmiris with the right of determination in the light of UN resolutions. PUC: Pakistan Ulema Council leadership on Monday said that people will elect "Kashmir-friendly" leadership in next general elections of 2018.

Pakistan Ulema Council leaders while addressing rallies and processions to mark Kashmir Solidarity Day, stated that 2018 will prove as year of Kashmir and Palestine's freedom. Pakistan Ulema Council Chairman Hafiz Muhammad Tahir Mehmood Ashrafi while addressing Kashmir solidarity conference that held here stated that world leadership and human rights organisations are demonstrating criminal silence over the oppressed people of Kashmir and Palestine.

He demanded the government to play proactive role in highlighting miseries of Kashmiris by sending delegates worldwide and urge Muslim world to ensure implementation of UN resolutions for the rights of Kashmiris.

He demanded the leadership of Muslim states to play their effective and respective role in resolving the Kashmir and Palestine issues. He also expressed hope that 2018 will prove as freedom year for Kashmir and Palestine.