Islamabad, 2nd March, 2020: The 10th (in-camera) meeting of the Parliamentary Committee on Kashmir was held today, at Parliament House, Islamabad under the Chairmanship of Syed Fakhar Imam, MNA.

2.    The Chairman welcomed and thanked the Special Envoy of the OIC Secretary General on Jammu and Kashmir Ambassador Yousaf Aldobeay, and his 5 Members delegation for visiting Pakistan and Azad Jammu and Kashmir as Pakistan accord great value to the OIC’s unwavering support on the Jammu and Kashmir dispute. He also appreciate the OIC condemnation of the India’s illegal actions in IOJ&K, reiteration of its principled position on the Jammu and Kashmir dispute, as well as its holding of two meetings of the Contact Group on Jammu and Kashmir are welcomed steps. However, the gravity of the situation in IOJ&K warrants greater involvement of the OIC.

3.    Later, The Chairman briefed the visiting Envoy and his delegation about the historical background of the Kashmir dispute and latest situation in the held Kashmir. He further urged that India needs to immediately rescind its illegal actions of 5 August 2019 and take concrete steps towards the Resolution of the Jammu and Kashmir dispute in line with the UN Security Council resolutions and the wishes of the Kashmiri people. Moreover, the OIC should send a fact finding delegation to Indian occupied Kashmir in order to obtain first hand information about the deteriorating inhumane condition of the Kashmiris. The Hon. Members of the Committee also emphasized on the need of unity among the Muslim ummah / OIC Members on the issue of Palestine and Kashmir without dividing themselves on the conspiracies of our common enemies. They also urged the special Envoy for support to the hapless people of IOJ&K in their testing times with an appeal to OIC countries to use their political influence and economic clout to prevent India from committing further atrocities in IOJ&K.

4.     The visiting envoy apprised the Committee about the activities and efforts of the OIC Secretary General to address the complaints of the Kashmiri brethrens as well as to solve the Kashmir dispute in accordance with the resolutions of the UN Security Council. He further said we are visiting Azad Jammu and Kashmir to see the condition of the people living near the LoC as well as to meet the political leadership there in Azad Kashmir to understand their point of view and difficulties they are facing since last 72 years.

5.    The meeting was attended by the Hon. Members namely: Ms. Nuzhat Pathan, Mr. Muhammad Akram Cheema, Mr. Aurangzeb Khan Khichi, Ms. Sobia Kamal Khan, Ms. Asma Qadeer, Ms. Ghazala Saifi, Ms. Uzma Riaz, Ms. Naureen Farooq Ibrahim Khan, Mr. Khurram Dastgir Khan, Ms. Kiran Imran Dar, Chaudhry Abid Raza, Dr. Nisar Ahmed Cheema, Ms. Zaib Jaffar, Mr. Muhammad Jamal Ud Din, Nawabzada Iftakhar Ahmed Khan Babar, Mr. Rafique Ahmed Jamali, MNAs Senator Mushahidullah Khan, Senator Sherry Rehman, Secretary, Ministry of Kashmir Affairs & Gilgit Baltistan Mr. Tariq Mehmood Pasha, Pakistan’s Permanent Representative to OIC Amb. Rizwan Saeed Sheikh and Senior Officers of Ministry of Foreign Affairs were also present in the meeting.