World urged to shun ‘double standards’ on Kashmir
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ISLAMABAD/MUZAFFARABAD: The ‘Kashmir Black Day’ was observed on Saturday across Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) and Pakistan as well as the country’s embassies around the world to condemn the fresh wave of Indian brutalities against innocent Kashmiris being perpetuated to stop their just struggle for securing their right to self-determination.
Participating at various events held in connection with the day observed to condemn India’s invasion of Kashmir on this day in 1947, speakers urged the international community to shun double standards on the issues of human rights and called upon them to play an active role in persuading India to resolve the lingering dispute.
Warning that the situation in India-held Kashmir was getting out of control in the wake of atrocities by Indian forces, Kashmiri leaders called upon Islamabad to extend to them “full military support” before it was too late.
Black day observed to condemn Indian atrocities against Kashmiris
Speaking at a press conference in Muzaffarabad, United Jihad Council (UJC) chief Syed Salahuddin said a great human tragedy was unfolding in held Kashmir and urged the government of Pakistan to announce full military support to the Kashmiris without wasting “even a second”.
The UJC brings together around a dozen groups fighting Indian occupation of Kashmir, of which Mr Salahuddin’s Hizbul Mujahideen is the largest constituent.
Leaders of almost all the member outfits were accompanying Mr Salahuddin at the press conference.
“There does not arise any question of a peaceful negotiated settlement of the longstanding [Kashmir] issue in the presence of such an attitude and atmosphere in India,” he said, adding that if the government of Pakistan was unable to save the Kashmiris from genocide it should make it clear to them.
Draconian laws
Speaking at a seminar organised by the Senate’s standing committee on Kashmir to mark the black day, Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) President Sardar Masood Khan lamented that the world powers were backing India and covering its crimes. “In fact, turning a blind eye towards the crimes being committed by India in held Kashmir is a crime in itself,” he said.
He called upon the international community to give up its double standards and help Kashmiris exercise their right to self-determination.
Speaking on the occasion, Senator retired Gen Abdul Qayyum criticised India for the draconian laws in Kashmir where fair trial and cross-examination of witnesses was not possible. “Mental torture, humiliation and use of third-degree methods are order of the day,” he remarked.
He said the United Nations, which took credit for decolonisation in the post-Second World War era, had failed to achieve its fundamental objectives as stipulated in the UN charter. He said the big powers were in fact hostage to their strategic interests and economic priorities. “This is the reason why UN commission for human rights’ recent report has fallen on deaf ears,” he said.
Chairman of the Senate standing committee on Interior Rehman Malik said that since Narendra Modi took over as Indian prime minister, oppression against Kashmiris had intensified. The gathering also passed a resolution moved by Senator Rehman Malik expressing concern over the news about the ‘Seoul peace prize for 2018’ being conferred upon the Indian premier.
Wondering how a violator of human rights could be awarded a peace prize, the resolution demanded that the South Korean president and chairman of the award committee of the Seoul peace prize foundation withdraw the award given to Mr Modi.
Meanwhile, Jamaat-i-Islami Emir Senator Sirajul Haq while speaking at a ‘Kashmir march’ observed that the attitude of United Nations towards Muslims was biased.
Published in Dawn, October 28th, 2018
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