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| February 8, 2002 | Friday | Ziqa’ad 24, 1422 |
British MPs slam HR abuses in Kashmir
LONDON, Feb 7: British parliamentarians have expressed their concern over continuing human rights abuses in held Kashmir and promised to plead Kashmir cause till its solution in line with the struggle of the people of Kashmir.
They were speaking at Kashmir Solidarity Day organized at the grand committee room of the House of Commons by UK Kashmir Freedom Council.
Political coordinator to AJK prime minister, Raja Najabat Hussain, presided over the meeting, attended by All Parties Kashmir Parliamentary Group Chairman MP Roger Godsiff, Pakistan High Commissioner Abdul Kader Jaffer, MP Brian Edden, MP John Battle, MP Mohammad Sarwar, MP Khalid Mehmood, Lorna Fitzimons, MP John Stevenson, MP Powell Goodman, MP Peter Pike, Lord Nazir Ahmad, Lord Gloria Cohan, MP David Wallington, National Association of British Pakistanis Chairman Khurshid Ahmed and other Kashmiri leaders.
They said the Kashmir issue would not go away as it pertained to the right of self-determination of the people of Kashmir and it had to be solved. They called for concrete steps to solve it and said Kashmiris could not be subjugated for ever and the day would come when they would become arbiter of their destiny.
Expressing their concern on killings of Kashmris, they said, human rights were being systemically abused in occupied Kashmir.
John Stevenson, expressing “full solidarity” with people of Kashmir, said “it was a blot on our claim to be civilized society.”
“Human rights continue to be abused systemically, sufferings and torture continue on daily basis,” he said.
He said the dialogue offer by President Musharraf should be taken up by India. “We hope whatever discussion takes place, at long last they lead to real progress.”
MP Sarwar said Kashmiris had suffered a great deal so a clear message should be sent that they were not alone in their struggle and that all people who believed in justice would continue to support them.
President Musharraf, he said, had extended a hand of friendship to Prime Minister Vajpayee and took steps not to allow any terrorism from Pakistan. “This step should have been taken seriously by India,” he said.
Khalid Mehmood said it was up to the Kashmiri community to raise the issue with their local leaders and MPs. He said it was time the message of Kashmir was taken to wider spectrum.
John Battle, who is adviser to Prime Ninister Blair, said the world and the international media should highlight the human tragedy in Kashmir.
Kashmir had “suffered international political neglect for half a century,” he said.
Tony Blair, he said, should visit South Asia to achieve the implementation of UNSC resolutions promising Kashmiris the right to self-determination.
Lord Nazir Ahmad urged the UN Secretary General Kofi Annan to use his powers under Article 99 for calling a special meeting of UNSC to deal with the situation in South Asia as it had an impact on the international community.
He dismissed the Indian allegations about “cross-border terrorism” and said: “There is not a single Kashmiri who is a terrorist.”—APP
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