MIRPUR (AJK), (Parliament Times) : On the occasion of Human Rights Day observed the World over Wednesday, speakers at a seminar held at the European headquarters in Brussels emphatically stated that protecting the rights of Kashmiris is the responsibility of the international community, it was officially said.
“The seminar, titled “The Universal Declaration of Human Rights: Upholding the Rights of Kashmiris,” was organized by the Kashmir Council Europe (KCEU) at its secretariat in Brussels”? says a message reaching and released to the media here Wednesday night.
The seminar, attended by intellectuals, experts, representatives of political and social organizations, human rights activists, and students, discussed the issue of Kashmir, particularly the rights of Kashmiris, within the context of international human rights laws including universal declaration of human rights.
The seminar was presided over by Ali Raza Syed, Chairman of the Kashmir Council Europe (EU), while former Member of the Brussels Parliament Dr. Manzoor Zahoor was the guest of honor, and Professor Muhammad Ammad Hanif from Gordon College Rawalpindi, currently working on a research project in Brussels, was the keynote speaker. The seminar was moderated by President Pakistan Press Club Belgium Ch. Imran Saqib.
In his address, Ali Raza Syed said that the Kashmir Council EU has been highlighting the rights of Kashmiris in Europe for a long time, and the purpose of organizing this seminar is also to raise maximum awareness about the legitimate rights of Kashmiris, especially the right to self-determination.
He stated that Kashmiris have been struggling for their rights for a long time, and their struggle is internationally recognized. Resolutions on the right to self-determination of Kashmiris and the Kashmir issue also exist in the United Nations.
The guest of honor, Dr. Manzoor Zahoor, expressing regret over the continuous violation of the rights of Kashmiris, said that Kashmiris have not yet been able to attain their right to self-determination. He said that the nations of the world should play their role in protecting the rights of Kashmiris.
In his keynote address, Professor Ammad Hanif shed light on various aspects of the Kashmir issue, the rights of Kashmiris, and the ongoing struggle to protect these rights. He said that Kashmir is very important to Pakistan culturally, religiously, and geographically, and Pakistan has always provided political, diplomatic, and moral support to Kashmiris.
He stated that it is the duty of global human rights institutions and important international and regional cooperation organizations, especially the United Nations and the European Union, to protect the rights of Kashmiris and play their role in achieving a just solution to the Kashmir issue.
Other speakers at the seminar included prominent personalities Farid Khan, Muhammad Iftikhar (Pa-Billo), Syed Jafar Naqvi, Shazia Aslam, and Sheraz Butt. Among other important personalities present were Wasim Akhtar of the People’s Party, Chaudhry Khalid Joshi, president World Kashmir Diaspora Alliance Europe, Sheikh Majid, Kenneth Roy, and Sheraz Raj.
During the seminar, particularly in the Q&A session among participants, there was a fruitful discussion on the longstanding, unresolved Kashmir dispute and human rights violations in occupied Kashmir.
The participants emphasized that the Kashmir issue is fundamentally a longstanding issue of human rights and the right to self-determination. The people of Jammu and Kashmir are asking the entire world when they will receive their basic rights and political freedom from Indian occupation. The most important aspect of this issue for the international community is the serious human rights situation in the occupied valley, where there are continuous reports of restrictions on basic freedoms and civil rights, the right to self-determination, freedom of expression, assembly, and movement, along with a lack of protection for life and property.
The oppression by Indian occupation forces stationed in Illegally India-occupied Kashmir continues, and black laws like the Public Safety Act have been enforced, which human rights organizations deem as blatant violations of fundamental human rights. Numerous United Nations reports and independent human rights experts have expressed concerns that serious human rights violations are occurring in the occupied valley of Kashmir.
The seminar participants stressed that the people of Jammu and Kashmir must receive their rights, and the international community must play its key role in resolving the Kashmir issue. At the conclusion of the seminar, Chairman of the Kashmir Council EU, Ali Raza Syed, thanked all the participants.
