A delegation comprising of Parliamentarians Malik Shakir Bashir Awan, Mr. Abdul Waseem, MNAs and Director General (KC) Mr. Nasim Khalid presented a Memorandum, addressed to the H.E. Antonio Guterres, Secretary General United Nations on behalf of the Chairman, Special Committee of the National Assembly on Kashmir in connection with the Kashmir Solidarity Day here on Monday, the 5th February, 2018. The memo was presented to the Resident Representative of UN, Mr. Neil Buhne in his office by the delegation. After presenting the Memorandum the delegation emphasized the UN Representative to convey the feelings and concern of the Pakistani nation about the Indian atrocities being committed by the occupied Indian forces since last 70 years. The Members also elaborated present situation of the Kashmir’s struggle in Indian occupied Kashmir. The Resident Representative assured that he will transmit the message and the feelings of the Pakistani people to the Secretary General of the United Nations along with a personal note about this meeting. The Member further stressed that this day reminds the world community that they should play their proactive role in the light of UN Resolution to provide the Kashmiris with their right of self-determination. Moreover, the world community and the UN may break their silence on the inhuman treatment of Indian occupied forces on innocent Kashmiris. Durable and peaceful solution of Kashmir issue is essential for stability in the South Asia region and key to the progress and prosperity.
A text of the Memorandum presented to the UN Representative is as under:-
MEMORANDUM
To the Secretary General of The United Nations
from the Chairman Special Committee of the National Assembly of Pakistan on Kashmir On The Occasion of Kashmir Solidarity Day (5 February 2018)
The Jammu & Kashmir dispute is one of the oldest unresolved international disputes pending on the agenda of the United Nations Security Council. Jammu & Kashmir is the core dispute between Pakistan and India and threatens the peace and stability of nuclearized South Asia. The status of the State of Jammu & Kashmir is internationally recognized to be disputed through numerous resolutions of the UN Security Council.
The UN Security Council Resolutions 47 of 21 April 1948, 51 of 3 June 1948, 80 of 14 March 1950, 91 of 30 March 1951, 122 of 24 January 1957 and Resolutions of UN Commission for India and Pakistan of 13 August 1948 and of 5 January 1949 embody the principle that the final deposition of the State of Jammu and Kashmir would be made in accordance with the will of the people, to join India or Pakistan, expressed through the democratic method of a free and impartial plebiscite conducted under the auspices of the United Nations.
The current situation in Indian Occupied Jammu and Kashmir emanates from the denial by India of the Right to Self Determination of the Kashmiri people through a free and fair plebiscite.
The Special Committee of the National Assembly on Kashmir recalls that despite the passage of nearly seven decades, the people of Indian Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IoK) are still denied their inalienable right to self-determination.
The valiant people of Indian occupied Jammu and Kashmir are waging a heroic and historic struggle against Indian occupation. They have rendered unmatched sacrifices in this struggle. As per Kashmir Media Service (KMS), about 100,000 Kashmiris have been killed by Indian occupation forces in IoK. Out of these, more than 7,000 persons have been killed in Indian custody, 22,000 women have been widowed, 105,000 children have been orphaned and more than 11,000 women have been raped and gang raped by Indian occupation forces. More than 6,000 unnamed mass graves have been discovered with thousands of victims of fake encounters.
After the extra-judicial killing of Kashmiri youth leader Burhan Wani on 08 July 2016, India intensified its brutalities and unleashed an unprecedented reign of terror in Iok. As a result more than 200 civilians have embraced martyrdom and around 20,210 have been injured so far. Indian occupation forces have mass blinded Kashmiri civilians, including youth, women and children, by deliberately targeting the eyes with pellet gun shots. As of October 2017, 1,828 Kashmiri youth have suffered vision loss as a result of pellet gun shots. Of these, 206 have been blinded in one eye, while 273 have been totally blinded.
Recent instances of braid chopping of Kashmiri women have resulted in fear among the masses. While the ruling elite stay aloof of the situation the common masses fear for their safety and honor. India has been desperately trying to conceal its atrocities by equating the legitimate and indigenous struggle of the Kashmiri people with terrorism. This is not only an affront on their struggle but also a wicked attempt to discredit a legitimate movement.
The Indian Government’s appointment of Dineshwar Sharma, India’s ex IB chief, as interlocutor between the Indian Government and the people of Indian occupied Jammu and Kashmir, is nothing more than a political ploy to sideline the true representatives of the Kashmiri People. This is typical of the Indian Government’s machinations.
India is working on a sinister plan to change the demographic make-up of Jammu and Kashmir by trying to abrogate Article 35-A of the Indian Constitution by settling non-Muslim subjects in IoK. Article 35-A preserves the Kashmiri Muslim identity of the region by barring outsiders from purchasing land/property in IoK and giving the authority to the Government of IoK to grant status of state subject. If the Article is repealed the Indian Government can realize its nefarious plans to settle non-state subjects in IoK and change its demography.
The silence of the international community on the gross Indian human rights violations in IoK is highly disappointing and puts to question its sincerity with the principles of universal human rights.
Pakistan will continue to extend political, diplomatic and moral support to the Kashmiri people in their just struggle.
The Chairman and the Members of the Special Committee on Kashmir of the National Assembly of Pakistan urge the United Nations:-
a. To impress upon India to allow UN fact-finding mission and other international human right organizations and observers to visit the Indian Occupied Jammu & Kashmir to investigate the gross human rights violations;
b. To urge India to immediately put an end to its gross human rights violations in IoK;
c. To impress upon the Human Rights Council to appoint a Special Rapporteur on Indian Occupied Jammu & Kashmir;
d. To ask Indian to withdraw its occupation forces from Indian Occupied Jammu & Kashmir and end its barbarities, oppression and blatant human rights violations there;
e. To immediately cease its use of pellet guns shots as an instrument of terror to blind and maim the brave people of Kashmir;
f. To help hold a plebiscite in Jammu & Kashmir, without any further delay, in accordance with UN Security Council Resolutions;
g. To enhance the role and effectiveness of the United Nations Military Observer Group in India and Pakistan to ensure peace and tranquility at the LoC and the Working Boundary;
h. To cease and desist from its practice of braid chopping of Kashmiri women and to punish the perpetrators; and
i. To initiate dialogue with the Hurriyat Leadership at the government level and not through make believe interlocutor.
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