Nankana incident, attacks on Indian minorities poles apart: PM Imran Khan

ISLAMABAD/NANKANA SAHIB: Prime Minister Imran Khan on Sunday said there was a difference between the Nankana incident and the routine attacks against minorities in India which are supported by the Modi government and are part of his RSS agenda. He also emphasised that the recent condemnable incident in Nankana was against his vision and would not be tolerated at all.

In tweets, the prime minister maintained that the minorities find protection by police and judiciary in Pakistan. The prime minister pointed out that the RSS goons conducting public lynching of Muslims were not only supported by the Modi government, but Indian police also lead such attacks.

He tweeted, “The major difference between the condemnable Nankana incident & the ongoing attacks across India on Muslims & other minorities is this: the former is against my vision & will find zero tolerance & protection from the govt incl police & judiciary.”

He wrote, “In contrast, Modi's RSS vision supports minorities oppression & the targeted attacks against Muslims are part of this agenda. RSS goons conducting public lynchings, Muslims being violated by mobs are all not only supported by Modi govt but Indian police leads anti-Muslim attacks.”

Meanwhile, in his message on the Kashmiris Right to Self-determination Day, Imran Khan said that due to Indian intransigence, the UN Security Council had failed to fulfil its pledge to the Kashmiri people of granting the right to self-determination to them.

"Being a party to the Jammu and Kashmir dispute, Pakistan stands ready to play its role to ensure a free and impartial plebiscite in accordance with the United Nations Security Council resolutions. Our strong and steadfast moral, political and diplomatic support for the Kashmiri people will continue till the realisation of their inalienable right to self-determination," he said.

He contended that the importance of the inalienable right to self-determination had been acknowledged in all important human rights covenants and decisions of the United National General Assembly and the Security Council.

“Every year, the 5th of January reinforces our commitment to uphold the fundamental human rights of the people of Jammu and Kashmir. On this day, in 1949, the United Nations made a commitment for the realisation of the right to self-determination of the Kashmiri people through a free and impartial plebiscite under the auspices of the United Nations,” he said.

He emphasized that over 72 years of illegal occupation of Indian Occupied Kashmir (IOK) are a saga of brutalisation of the Kashmiri people. Around 900,000 occupation forces have converted the region into the largest prison in the world.

“Post-5th August 2019, India has unleashed a new reign of terror in IOK, locking the region down and abusing human rights of the innocent people especially women, children and the elderly with impunity. Kashmiri people have been deprived of their rights to life, food, health, freedom of expression, freedom of assembly, freedom of religion and, above all, the right to self-determination for over 150 days,” he regretted.

The prime minister said the recent wave of unprecedented Indian state-sponsored terrorism in IOK and discriminatory steps against minorities, especially Muslims, are a clear manifestation of the Hindutva ideology espoused by the RSS-inspired Indian government.

“The world must ensure that human rights abuses do not go unpunished and that the perpetrators of these heinous crimes against humanity are held accountable,” he emphasised.

Meanwhile, Interior Minister Ijaz Shah has said that anti-state elements want to foil the peaceful environment of the country, but their nefarious designs would be foiled with unity.

Addressing a press conference at Gurdwara Janamasthan here on Sunday, he said that all the communities were living with brotherhood and peace in Nankana Sahib and such example could not be found in any other city of the country and the world. He said that anti-state elements were the enemy of the nation and country and they would be dealt with iron hands.

Provincial Minister for Housing Mian Mehmoodur Rasheed said that some elements wanted to spread anarchy and chaos in the country. He said that the Muslims-Sikhs friendship was not suiting to enemies. He said that no stone was thrown at the Gurdwara.

MPA Sardar Mahinder Pal Singh said that minorities had complete religious freedom in Pakistan. He thanked the ministers for visiting Gurdwara Janamasthan.

Earlier, the interior minister chaired a meeting at DC Office in which he was briefed about security arrangements for Nankana Sahib. Later, the interior minister visited the DHQ Hospital and inaugurated the new building of Trauma Centre. Later, he visited Captain Hasnain Nawaz Shaheed MC High School, inaugurated its new block and planted a sapling there. He also inaugurated a newly-constructed waterfall near Kashmir Road. This water fall is constructed by Hira Education System. DC Raja Mansoor Ahmad, DPO Ismailur Rehman Kharrak, Chaudhry Qaisar Irfan, Mirza Saleem Akhtar and others were also present on the occasion.