MUZAFFARABAD: President Dr Arif Alvi has made it clear that the Kashmiris’ struggle is not terrorism as propagated by India, but a mean to achieve their internationally acknowledged right to self-determination. He said the UN also allowed the oppressed people to wage a war for freedom against the oppressive countries.

He expressed theses views while addressing a gathering of migrants from occupied Kashmir in Thotha village on the outskirts of Muzaffarabad, which was held in connection with Youm-i-Istehsal or the day of exploitation on Thursday.

Dr Alvi maintained that India was under a serious misconception that Kashmiris would give up their struggle with the passage of time. He said that the spirit of freedom lied in the hearts of people and could not be wiped out from there even in centuries.

He pointed out that unlike India, Pakistan had always earnestly wished to resolve the Kashmir issue through peaceful means because Pakistan believed there could be no military solution to any dispute.

Stressing that Pakistan’s commitment to peace should not be mistaken as its weakness, he asked India not to forget the fate of its fighter jets after intrusion into Pakistan’s airspace in Feb 2019.

Calling upon the UN institutions and human rights organisations to take steps for emancipation of the people of occupied Kashmir,he declared that Pakistan would not sit at ease until the Kashmiris achieved their right to self-determination.

Prior to him, AJK President Sardar Masood Khan, Prime Minister Sardar Abdul Qayyum Niazi, federal minister Dr Fehmida Mirza and some other leaders spokeat the gathering.

The people from different walks of life also staged rallies and demonstrations to condemn the revocation of occupied Jammu and Kashmir’s special status by India on the second anniversary of the unilateral and unlawful move.

Earlier in the day, the special session of the AJK Assembly strongly condemned the unrelenting atrocities and human rights violations by the Indian forces in occupied Kashmir and called upon the international community to play its role in grant of inalienable right to self-determination to the Kashmiris in accordance with the UN Security Council resolutions.

Leader of the house Abdul Qayyum Niazi appreciated the lawmakers for demonstrating complete unity on the issue of Kashmir.Former premier Raja Farooq Haider suggested that the assembly should review all illegal steps by Indian government and come up with an effective policy to be implemented by the government of Pakistan for resolution of the Kashmir issue.

RAWALPINDI

Youm-i-Istehsal was also observed in the twin cities and different functions were held to express solidarity with the oppressed Kashmiri people who had been confined to their homes amid military siege in the Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir for the last 732 days.

Rawalpindi Arts Council (RAC) arranged a photo exhibition to show the brutalities of Indian forces on the innocent Kashmiris.

Mushaal Hussein Mullick, chairperson Peace and Culture Organisation, was the chief guest at the exhibition. She also led a protest rally.

Addressing the participants of the rally, Mushaal Mullick said that India was changing the geographical boundaries of occupied Kashmir. “As many as 1.2 million Indians had been settled in the occupied Kashmir since August 5, 2019,” she said.

She said the Indian fascist government would turn Kashmiris into a minority in the valley by conducting a false census in occupied Kashmir. The genocide of Kashmiris by Indian forces had increased in the last two years.

She asked the Human Rights Commission, the International Court of Justice and the United Nations to take notice of the Indian atrocities in occupied Kashmir.

Meanwhile, a walk was held from the Rawalpindi DC office to the District Courts Square, which was led by Assistant Commissioner Waqas Sikandari. It was attended by students, teachers, businessmen, lawyers and other residents.

Published in Dawn, August 6th, 2021