British Parliamentarians raise serious concerns over human rights abuses in Indian Occupied Kashmir (IOK)
Inquiry Report of APPG on Kashmir into human rights violations in IoK to be launched on Tuesday at the British Parliament
The Pakistan High Commission London organized a seminar in connection with the Kashmir Black Day at the British Parliament on 24 October 2018.
Kashmir Black Day is observed on 27 October every year against the illegal occupation of Jammu & Kashmir by India. This is the day, when, in 1947, India sent its armed forces to Jammu & Kashmir and occupied it in total violation of the Indian Independence Act and Partition Plan, and against the aspiration of the Kashmiri people.
Besides a large number of Kashmiri diaspora, the seminar was attended by a number of British Parliamentarians and human rights activists who are actively working on resolution of the Kashmir issue.
The participants of the seminar condemned Indian atrocities and human rights violations in the Indian Occupied Kashmir (IoK). They urged India to end draconian laws in the IoK and meet its international obligation by giving the Kashmiris their right to self-determination, as enshrined in the UN resolutions.
On this occasion, Chairman APPG on Kashmir Chris Leslie MP announced that the Inquiry Report of APPG on Kashmir into human rights violations in the Indian Occupied Kashmir will be officially launched at the British Parliament on 30 October 2018. Subsequently, the Report will be presented to the British Parliament, UK Government, the United Nations and other international human rights bodies.
Acting High Commissioner, Muhammad Ayub, in his remarks, urged the international community to come forward and play its role in immediate cessation of massive violations of human rights in Kashmir, and ending the impunity enjoyed by Indian security forces. He said: “Despite commitments made by the early Indian leadership and numerous resolutions of the UN Security Council, the Indian Government has unleashed a reign of terror in the occupied Kashmir, in complete disregard for international human rights and humanitarian laws. Today, the plight of defenceless people in the occupied Kashmir is worse than ever. Their sufferings are indeed an affront to the conscience of humanity.”
The Acting High Commissioner added: “Pakistan welcomes the UN Secretary General’s statement, OIC resolution and the proposal by the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights to establish a Commission of Inquiry for international investigation into human rights violations in the Indian Occupied Jammu & Kashmir (IoK).”
The seminar was chaired by Jack Brereton MP. Other Parliamentarians who spoke at the seminar included: Ian Lewis MP, Steve Baker MP, Lord Qurban Hussain, Faisal Rashid MP, Afzal Khan MP, Muhammad Yasin MP and Julie Cooper MP. Yasmin Dar represented the JKSDMI, whereas Chairman Third World Solidarity Alderman Mushtaq Lasharie moderated the event.
As short documentary on human rights violations in IoK was shown to the audience on the occasion and printed material in this regard was also distributed among the attendees.
