Kashmir unfinished agenda of independence: Shahbaz

LAHORE: Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif has said the people of Occupied Kashmir are fighting for freedom and survival, and they have written a new history with their blood to achieve the goal of self-determination.

“The Pakistani government, as well as the people, have always raised their full voice against the worst violations of human rights and state-sponsored brutalities in the Occupied Kashmir. In fact, refusing to grant the right of self-determination to the Kashmiris shows the weaknesses in moral diplomatic and political behaviours,” he said on Friday.

In his message issued in connection with the Kashmir Solidarity Day, the chief minister said Kashmir was the unfinished agenda of independence. “A just solution of the core issue of Kashmir is essential to fully benefit from natural and human resources of South Asia,” he added.

“On this day, the whole nation is standing side-by-side with their Kashmiri brethren and I pay rich tributes to the brave struggle of the Kashmiri people for their inalienable right of self-determination,” said Shahbaz.

The chief minister urged the world community and human rights bodies to play their effective role to stop the worst cruelties meted out by the Indian forces.

Separately, Sindh Governor Muhammad Zubair called on Shahbaz and discussed matters related to mutual interest and political situation in the country.

Shahbaz said the PML-N fully believed in a people-oriented development agenda, adding that the fate of the citizens of Karachi and other parts of Sindh would be changed, if given an opportunity.

He said the PML-N leadership wanted to ensure composite development in the country to benefit everyone equally.

On the other hand, the chief minister told on Friday a delegation of General Electric Company that the efforts to overcome the energy crisis were bearing fruit.

Also on Friday, the mayor of Slough (a city in the UK), Ishrat Naz Shah, met Shahbaz who said the overseas Pakistanis were the country’s ambassadors, adding that the election of Ishrat as mayor was a matter of pride for Pakistan.