MIRPUR, March 13: The visiting Mayor of London Borough of Waltham Forest, Fazal ur Rehman, has called for early peaceful settlement of the Kashmir issue in accordance with the United Nations resolution to ensure lasting peace in the subcontinent.

He was speaking at a reception hosted by Mirpur District Council in honour of the visiting 11-member delegation of councillors, senior officials and experts of the London Borough of Waltham Forest here Wednesday.

The British delegation comprises Simon White, Chief Executive, Councillor Masood Ahmed, Dr Lubna Masood Ahmed, Barrister Najamul Hussain, Faiz Uunis Walthamstow, Allah Ditta Khan, Imran Khan, Rana Bashir, Adalat Khan, and Mrs Sabiha Shahzad.

He said that his council, civic body of the people of Waltham Forest, fully supported the Kashmiris’ birth right of self-determination.

He said the council of his city had, through a unanimous resolution, categorically supported the Kashmiris’ inalienable right to self-determination.

He said that his council urged the United Nations secretary general to immediately implement the international body’s promises, made under various resolutions, in respect of holding an impartial plebiscite in Kashmir under its direct administration, control and supervision, and with the help of its own armed forces.

Mayor Fazal ur Rehman continued that his council also urged the British government to fulfil its obligation, both as one of the movers of the UN resolutions and also the former colonial ruler, to honestly implement the terms of independence and transfer of power to the people of the then British India in general and Kashmir in particular.

Rehman said the motion on Kashmiris right of self-determination was moved by him and it was seconded by Councillor Clive Morton, the then leader of the council. The motion was unanimously adopted by all the councillors of all the political parties.

The matter is required to be resolved under the spirit of UN resolutions instead of through bilateral means without further loss of time, he urged.

Speaking on this occasion, chief executive of the borough, Simon White, said an integrated plan was being chalked out for exchange of bilateral cooperation in health, education and civic sectors between the cities of Mirpur and Waltham Forest under a friendship treaty.—APP