RAWALPINDI, Dec 18: Kashmiris will never give up their inherent right to self determination and will continue their struggle till the liberation movement is crowned with success.
This was stressed by speakers at a function held to mark the 39th death anniversary of renowned Kashmiri leader Chaudhry Ghulam Abbas here on Monday.
They stressed that the settlement of the longstanding Kashmir dispute was vital for sustained peace in the region. They lauded Indian Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh’s response to President Gen Pervez Musharraf’s proposal on Kashmir.
Speaking on the occasion, Minister for Kashmir Affairs Maj (retired) Tahir Iqbal assured that Pakistan would never accept a resolution to the Kashmir dispute that was not acceptable to the Kashmiris.
He expressed optimism about inclusion of Kashmiris in the dialogue process and settlement of the dispute through trilateral talks involving Pakistan, India and Kashmiris.
Mr Iqbal said the government would keep on playing its role in highlighting the Kashmir problem on international level in its true perspective. He said the government would leave no stone unturned in the development of Azad Kashmir.
AJK Prime Minister Sardar Attique Ahmed Khan announced the formation of ‘Kashmir’s accession to Pakistan foundation’ in Azad Kashmir, creation of Chaudhry Ghulam Abbas chair in the AJK University and gave the mausoleum of Chaudhry Ghulam Abbas the status similar to founder of Pakistan Quaid-i-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah.
He welcomed the steps being taken by President Gen Pervez Musharraf to move towards resolution of the lingering Jammu and Kashmir dispute.
He said a conducive atmosphere was essential to find out a peaceful political solution to the Kashmir problem. He said no peace loving person could differ from the proposals made by President Gen Pervez Musharraf.
Rejecting Emma Nicholson report on Kashmir, he announced to stage worldwide protests against it.
The AJK prime minister said the Muslim Conference still stood by its decision for Kashmiris’ accession to Pakistan.
AJK President Raja Zulqarnain expressed the resolve to follow the footprints of Chaudhry Ghulam Abbas.
Those who addressed the ceremony included the Supreme leader of Muslim Conference Sardar Abdul Qayyum Khan, former AJK President Sardar Sikandar Hayat Khan.