Hurriyat activists stage protest in PaK

Convener APHC-M Pak chapter Mehmood Ahmed Saghar addressing a protest rally in Islamabad (27-Oct-10)

NISAR AHMED THOKAR

Islamabad, Oct 27: Activists of both Hurriyat factions staged a protest in front of the office of United Nations Military Observers Group (UNMOG) on Wednesday to seek UN’s pro-active role to settle the long-simmering Kashmir dispute peacefully in accordance with aspirations of Kashmiris.

Holding banners and placards, protesters raised pro-freedom slogans. Addressing protesters, speakers termed Indian control over Jammu and Kashmir as “illegal, unjustified and against the international norms of justice.”

They said that it was ironic that the country that proclaims and projects itself as the world’s largest democracy had “usurped the fundamental rights of the millions of Kashmiris.”

Highlighting the dangerous dimensions of what they called the “Indian military aggression” they said that it (aggression) has jeopardized peace in the region. 

They maintained that Right to self-determination was inalienable right of Kashmiris. “India holding on to Kashmir is in utter defiance of its pledges regarding the withdrawal of troops and holding a free and fair plebiscite under the UN auspices”, they said.

Referring to the human rights violations in the Valley they said that it was unfortunate that Kashmiris were being taken hostage in their own land. 

Stressing the need for early resolution of the dispute they urged the world community to intervene. They also called an end to HR violations in Kashmir.

They also urged the US president to take up the Kashmir issue with Indian leadership during his forthcoming visit to New Delhi.

Later a memorandum addressing the UN secretary General Ban Ki Moon was presented to the UNMOG officials seeking highest body’s role to settle Kashmir dispute.

Those who spoke on the occasion included, Mehmood Ahmed Saghar, Muhammad Farooq Rehmani, Syed Yousuf Naseem, Shah Ghulam Qadir, Saleem Haroon, HR activist M Afsar Khan, Ab. Majeed Mir, Ghulam Hassan Malik, Tufail Altaf, Altaf Wani, Ishtiaq Hameed, advocate Parvez Ahmed and several others.

Meanwhile, Pakistan Peoples Party (PaK) held a protest rally in front of Islamabad press club this afternoon. They noted regrettably that 63 years have passed but the highest body (UN) failed to discharge its moral and legal obligations vis-à-vis the resolution of Kashmir dispute.