Speaker briefs APPG on Pakistan; highlights human rights abuses in Indian Occupied Kashmir
Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq briefs APPG on Pakistan; highlights human rights abuses in Indian Occupied Kashmir
Sardar Ayaz Sadiq, Speaker National Assembly of Pakistan, met the All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG), on Pakistan at the British Parliament on 20 October 2016. The meeting was also attended by Mayors, Councillors, Kashmiri organizations, members of the Pakistani community and media representatives. Syed Naveed Qamar MNA also attended and addressed the meeting.
The Speaker briefed the British parliamentarians and other attendees about the gross human rights abuses of the Kashmiris by the Indian security forces. The Speaker said the movement for self-determination in Kashmir is indigenous and cannot be suppressed by state oppression. Speaking about the plight of the Kashmiris, he apprised the audience that so far over 100,000 Kashmiris have been killed. According to him, the recent human rights abuses are unprecedented as people are being killed, blinded and wounded with impunity under prolonged curfew. He called upon the UK to play its role in resolving the issue of Kashmir, as it is part of the unfinished agenda of partition. The Speaker also urged the parliamentarians to ask the British Prime Minister to take up the issue of human rights abuses with her Indian counterpart during her upcoming visit to India.
The Speaker informed the attendees that Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC), adopted a very strong resolution on the grave human rights situation in Indian Occupied Kashmir (IOK). He stated that OIC reaffirmed unwavering support to the just cause of Kashmiri people.
The British parliamentarians expressed deep concern over gross human rights abuses in IOK. They also assured to work towards sending a parliamentary delegation to IOK. They said that they would convey their concerns to the Prime Minister so that she could take up the issue of human rights abuses with her Indian counterpart during her upcoming visit to India.
Speaking on this occasion, the High Commissioner thanked the parliamentarians for their support to the Kashmiris. He also informed the attendees that the High Commission has already handed over a dossier on Kashmir to the British government. The dossier contains details of the human rights violations in the IOK.
The meeting was chaired by Yasmin Qureshi MP. Among others who spoke on the occasion included Lord Nazir Ahmed, Lord Qurban Hussain, Lord Kirkwood, David Nuttall MP, Steve Baker MP, Raja Nijabat Hussain and Mushtaq Lasharie.
Prior to this, the Speaker held a meeting with David Nuttall MP, who is also the chair of All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG), on Kashmir, and discussed the situation in IOK in detail.