KARACHI: World community urged to help resolve Kashmir issue
By Our Reporter
KARACHI, June 3: The need for resolving the Kashmir issue was emphasized during a defence of Pakistan conference organized by the Jamiat Ulema-i- Pakistan here on Monday.
The conference was held under the chairmanship of a former member of the National Assembly, Hafiz Mohammed Taqi. The JUP’s provincial chief, Sahibzada Dr Abulkhair Zubair, who was the chief guest, stressed upon the international community to urgently take steps for preventing India from embarking on an ill-advised military adventure.
Speakers vowed to stand by the armed forces if India forced a war on Pakistan.
They were of the view that Pakistan was being singled out and pushed to the wall by the world powers and India, because it was a Muslim country and had become a nuclear power.
They were highly critical of the biased and misleading stance of the West which had dubbed freedom struggles of Muslims as terrorism. The participants maintained that it reflected the bias of these countries who tended to support anything which was against the Muslims.
They were of the view the US was not a friend of Pakistan but an opportunist.
They supported the freedom struggle of the Kashmiris and the Muslims around the globe and endorsed the policies of Gen Pervez Musharraf. They said that there would be no compromise on Kashmir and nuclear policy, and if anybody tried to undermine them, the whole nation would resist that.
They deplored the Western media’s bias against Muslims. They emphasized the need for internal harmony and unity, irrespective of political differences.
The participants called upon the world community to recognize the centrality of the Kashmir issue to peace in the region.
Former mayor of Karachi Abdul Sattar Afghani, Bostan Ali Hoti and others also spoke at the conference.
HINDU PANCHAYAT: The Chairman of the All-Pakistan Hindu Panchayat, Mukhi Chatromal Chandan, has condemned the aggressive designs of Indians leaders, add agencies.
In a statement here on Monday, he urged the Indian leadership to shun its aggressive designs against Pakistan.
He made it clear that war could not solve problems and that the Kashmir issue should be resolved in accordance with the United Nations Security Council resolutions, in a peaceful manner and keeping in view the wishes of the people of occupied Kashmir.
“Pakistan wants peace. But if war is thrust upon it, then its people would defend every inch of its territory,” he emphasized.
LABOUR PARTY: The Labour Party of Pakistan has condemned the aggressive designs of the Indian government.
In a statement here on Monday, a party spokesman said the party viewed the prevailing tension between the two South Asian neighbours with utmost concern.
He appealed to the people of India, as well as the political parties there, to help strengthen peace movement in every nook and corner of India and frustrate the chauvinistic approach of their rulers.
The party also announced full support for the right of self-determination of the people of Kashmir.
PPP: The Pakistan People’s Party believes that a grave situation is prevailing on the Pakistan-India borders, particularly along the Line of Control, as troops stand eyeball to eyeball and there seems to be no chance of an immediate reduction in tension.
“There is a need to develop national consensus and open a dialogue for reconciliation to face the external threat. It is therefore imperative that the leader of the largest political party, Benazir Bhutto, and other leaders be made part and parcel of this national dialogue,” the Acting Secretary-General of the PPP, Mian Raza Rabbani, said.
He maintained that if the rulers could talk to the Indian prime minister, then what is keeping them from opening a dialogue with the leaders of public opinion in Pakistan.
Talking to PPI here on Monday, Mr Rabbani felt it was necessary that a distinction be made between opposition to the regime and support for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the country.
He said the PPP, with all the other democratic forces, was united with the people of Pakistan in the face of the threat of external aggression.
He said the prevailing crisis had brought to fore what he called “failure of the foreign policy” being pursued by the rulers.
“In these trying times when major and basic policy decisions, which would reflect on the future generations of Pakistan, need to be taken through the process of national consultation and have to be collective decisions. This is possible only through the parliament,” he emphasized.
