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Nation observes solidarity day with Kashmiris

NISAR AHMAD SHEIKH

ISLAMABAD: Leaders of various political, religious and traders organisations have extended their whole-hearted support to the Mujahideen in the occupied Kashmir, who have been waging a valiant struggle against the Indian occupation as well as the atrocities and brutalities of the Indian armed forces, who have trampled the norms of justice and humanity.

These leaders were addressing rallies in front of the United Nations offices here in the federal capital on Saturday in connection with the 'Kashmir Solidarity Day', being observed throughout Pakistan, Azad Jammu and Kashmir and the occupied Kashmir as well as throughout the world. The day began with collective prayers at 10 a.m. when all activities came to a stand still.

The leaders of various organisations presented memorandums to the UN representative, who promised that these would be forwarded to the United Nations Secretary General.

The organisations which presented memorandums included All Parties Hurriyet Conference, Jammu and Kashmir Milli Tehreek, Kashmir Liberation Cell, Tehrik-e-Jafria, All Jammu and Kashmir Sunni Jehad Council, Anjuman-e-Tajiran, Blue Area; Pakistan Muslim League, federal capital area; A'almi Tanzeem-i-Ahle Sunnat, Tanzeem-e-Farogh-e-Ahle Sunnat, fruit and vegetable traders body of Islamabad market, Tanzeemul Sarfeen, Rohani A'almi Tanzeem of buses and wagons union.

The participants of the rallies were carrying different banners and flags calling upon the UN to implement its resolution on the Jammu and Kashmir problem. They demanded withdrawal of Indian occupation forces; end to state terrorism, gangrape and violation of human rights in the occupied Kashmir. They also raised slogans against the UN for its inactio and against Indian and warned that 'jang rahe gi, jang rahe gi" till the freedom of Kashmir.

The speakers, while exhorting the Muslims and Kashmiris to remain united, reiterated the pledge that they would not spare any sacrifice for the fulfilment of the basic right of self-determination of the Kashmiris. They were confident that the day is not far off when the Kashmiris will achieve their goal of independence from the Indian yoke and join Pakistan as an honourable partner.

The speakers demanded of the world community as well as the civilised society to take a serious notice of the Indian violation of human rights, brutalities and atrocities in the occupied Kashmir. Indian violations have, during the last 10 years alone, claimed thousands of killings, injuries to over 10 million people and imprisonment of thousands, including front-line Hurriyet Conference leaders, in Indian jails.

They warned that peace in South Asia is synonymous with the settlement of Kashmir dispute.

They called upon President Clinton to live up to his commitment made to the former prime minister Nawaz Sharif, that he would make personal efforts to resolve the dispute.

They suggested to President Clinton to pay a visit to the occupied Kashmir during his forthcoming visit to South Asia and see for himself the situation in the Kashmir valley.

The speakers warned the Indian leadership that it should not be misled by the absence of political activity in Pakistan and declared that the nation and the armed forces are one on the issue of Kashmir.

The speakers called upon UN Secretary General Kofi Annan, to take steps for preserving the image of the United Nations which has already been impaired to a great extent. If the confidence in the United Nations is to be restored then it is high time that he should act and implement the Security Council resolutions promising the right of self-determination to the Kashmiris.

Those, who spoke on the occasion included Syed Zafar Ali Shah, member of the defunct National Assembly, senator Raja Aurangzeb of the defunct Senate of Pakistan, Sahibzada Pir Syed Mohamamd Ali Rana Bokhari, Ashraf Saraf. But the most soul stirring speech was made by a small girl of about 8 years, Tayyaba Batul, before the UN representative, who was tongue tied at the eloquence of the small girl.

The memorandums presented mainly demanded that the United Nations should ask India to stop terrorism in Kashmir, and ask India to quit Kashmir and remove its forces. "The United Nations, the memorandums demanded, should announce a date for holding the plebiscite to decide the question of self-determination of the Kashmiris and let them decide their destiny.