British Parliamentarians support Kashmiris’ right to self-determination
London–BY.ASGHAR ALI MUBARAK
Pakistan to continue moral, political and diplomatic support to the just struggle of the Kashmiri people: Syed Ibne Abbas
Around 40 British Parliamentarians expressed solidarity and extended support to the Kashmiri people in their right to self-determination as promised by the United Nations. They were speaking at a seminar on the eve of Kashmir Black Day, held at the House of Commons on 27 October 2015.
While expressing solidarity with the Kashmiris, the British Parliamentarians and representatives of the civil society urged India to hold plebiscite in Kashmir to resolve the oldest unresolved issue on the agenda of the United Nations. They also voiced deep concerns over atrocities being committed and violations of human rights of the Kashmiri people by the Indian security forces and emphasized on the need to forthwith stop these violations.
In his remarks on the occasion, H.E. Syed Ibne Abbas, Pakistan High Commissioner to the UK said that Pakistan would continue to extend moral, political and diplomatic support to the cause of self-determination of the people of Jammu and Kashmir. He said that the Kashmiri people were being denied fundamental human rights i.e. right to self-determination, by India for more than six decades and deplored the killing of over 100,000 Kashmiri people by 700,000 Indian security forces. The High Commissioner said the time is not far away when the Kashmiris will have realization of their cherished objective of freedom from subjugation.
The High Commissioner emphasized that Kashmir is not a territorial dispute but a matter of aspirations and fundamental human rights of 15 million Kashmiris to determine their destiny. He assured the government of Pakistan is committed to address this dispute in accordance with the UNSC Resolutions and in a peaceful manner.
The MPs and other speakers urged the British government to raise the issue with Indian Prime Minister during his upcoming visit to the UK. It was underlined that the Kashmir issue should be taken up formally at all national and international forums.
The speakers, among others, included Sir Gerald Kaufman MP, Andrew Griffiths MP and Chair APPG on Kashmir, Andrew Stephenson MP, Lord Nazir Ahmed, Lord Qurban Hussain, John Cryer MP, Imran Hussain MP, Jo Cox MP, Chris Leslie MP, Richard Burgon MP, Ruth Cadbury MP, Kelvin Hopkins MP, Stephen Timms MP, Jeff Smith MP, Andy McDonald MP, David Nuttall MP, Stewart Andrew MP, Rob Marris MP, Fabian Hamilton MP, Shabana Mahmood MP, Jason McCartney MP, Yasmin Qureshi MP, Dawn Butler MP and Naz Shah MP.
A large number of members of British society, Pakistani and Kashmiri diaspora and media representatives attended the event.
The seminar was organized by Jammu & Kashmir Self Determination Movement Europe (JKSDMEU), and was presided over by Raja Najabat Hussain, Chair, JKSDM. Every year, 27th October is observed as a Black Day by the Kashmiris in Indian Occupied Kashmir and the Kashmiri Diaspora world over to mark the invasion and occupation of Jammu & Kashmir by the Indian forces in 1947.
Captions:
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Syed Ibne Abbas, Pakistan High Commissioner to the UK addressing at the seminar on the Kashmir Black Day at the British Parliament on 27-10-2015
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Speakers addressing at the seminar on the Kashmir Black Day at the British Parliament on 27-10-2015
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Syed Ibne Abbas, Pakistan High Commissioner to the UK (centre) in a group photo with organisers and speakers of the seminar on the Kashmir Black Day at the British Parliament on 27-10-2015
