Islamabad; January 3, 2017: An unprecedented two-day International Parliamentary Seminar on Kashmir organized by Young Parliamentarians Forum (YPF), National Assembly of Pakistan under the patronage of the Honorable Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq, commences on Thursday, January 5, 2017. It is for the first time that the Parliament of Pakistan is hosting an international meet to delve upon the imperative issue of right of self-determination of people of Kashmir.

The event aims to analyze the plight of people of Indian occupied Kashmir (IoK) & issues regarding Indian brutalities since the rise of the new wave of self-determination after the martyrdom of BurhanWani in July 2016. Various dignitaries comprising around 20 International Member Parliaments and experts from European Parliament, UK, Canada and North America, in addition to 400 national delegates comprising Members Parliament of Pakistan, academia, social scientists, think tanks, international reporters and students, would be the participants of the Seminar. Pakistan Institute of Parliamentary Services (PIPS), Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Kashmir Affairs &Gilgit-Baltistan as well as the government of Azad Jammu Kashmir are collaborating with the Parliament of Pakistan to convene this seminar on 5th & 6th of January 2017.

Honorable Speaker National Assembly of Pakistan, Sardar Ayaz Sadiq envisioned the idea for the Seminar and designated Ms. Shaza Fatima Khawaja, MNA as its convener. Ms. Shaza Fatima Khawaja also serves as the General Secretary of Young Parliamentarians Forum, National Assembly of Pakistan. MNA Ms. Romina Khurshid Alam, Media Coordinator of YPF, will be serving as the Chief Coordinator for the Seminar.

At the international or global level, the Kashmir dispute presented itself as a test case for the emerging international peace and security architecture under the auspices of the United Nations Security Council. UN recognizes Kashmir as a disputed territory. In this regard, several resolutions have been passed and various observer groups have been deployed; yet the dispute continues to linger on. Since 1989, there as been blatant state terrorism on the part of 7 lac Indian troops who have killed more than 89,000 innocent men, women and children in their just struggle of self-determination.

The International Parliamentary Seminar will provide a platform to highlight three primary aspects of the issue; firstly, solution of Kashmir is imperative as it has become a clear issue of humanitarian crisis with thousands killed with phenomenon of mass blinding, mass-graves and half-widows staring in the eyes of humanity to give them their just right of freedom. Secondly, Kashmir is a disputed territory as per UNSC resolution and a nuclear flashpoint that remains to threaten peace and security of South Asia, the most populated region of the world. Last but not the least it is totally an indigenous and peaceful struggle of people of Indian Occupied Kashmir that the world community needs to recognize and respond to their just movement of right of self-determination.

Keeping in view the importance of this Seminar, Honorable Prime Minister of Islamic Republic of Pakistan, Mian Muhammad Nawaz Sharif would grace the inaugural session for the formal commencement. The Seminar & its session have been spread over a period two days with debates & talks on various crucial issues. Welcome address of the opening plenary will be delivered by MNA Shaza Fatima Khawaja, followed by the key note address by the Honorable Speaker ofthe National Assembly of Pakistan, Sardar Ayaz Sadiq. A speech by Honorable Sartaj Aziz, Adviser to the PM on Foreign Affairs will then be delivered. Honorable Prime Minister of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan will conclude with his esteemed remarks.

After the inaugural session, first plenary panel discussion would be held on The Role of the United Nations and Major Powers in Kashmir Dispute. The session would be chaired by Honorable Sardar Masood Khan, President of AJK. The second debate/discussion would be held on Kashmir Issue: In perspective of Humanitarian Crisis to be chaired by Ms. Marriyum Aurangzeb, Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting. The third intellectually engaging panel discussion titled Pakistan-India relations: Socio-economic & Security Implications would be chaired by Honorable Mr. Raja Muhammad Farooq Haider Khan, Prime Minister Azad Jammu Kashmir (AJK).

The concluding session of the International Seminar on Kashmir would be addressed by Chairman Senate of Pakistan Mian Raza Rabbani. This session will include the revision & consolidation of points gathered in through plenary sessions. Ms. Romina Khursheed Alam, will deliver the vote of thanks as the official conclusion of the Seminar.