MIRPUR (AJK)
Federal Minister for Kashmir Affairs and Gilgit Baltistan Muhammad Barjees Tahir said that Pakistan is incomplete without its Jugular Vein – Kashmir - therefore the people and the government of Pakistan would continue their full moral, political and diplomatic support to the Kashmiris’ struggle for their right to self-determination.
He was addressing Tuesday evening a gathering after inauguration of Pakistan Sweet Home, the centre for rehabilitation of orphans, in Dadayal Town, about 60 km from here.
The minister said, “We consider ourselves incomplete without the people of Jammu state. The people should be granted their birth right to self-determination through holding of plebiscite in the state in accordance with the United Nations resolutions. Pakistan will never lag behind unless the people of the Jammu & Kashmir state are granted their legitimate right to self-determination in line with the international commitments made in the UN resolutions.”
Tahir pointed out that Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif had raised the early grant of Kashmiris’ birth right to self-determination during his address in the UN General Assembly meeting besides his meetings with US President Obama and Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in the United States.
He said that it was unfortunate that the Kashmirs were still deprived of the right even after expiration of 66 years. He said, “Our freedom loving brethren and sisters in occupied Jammu and Kashmir have given tremendous sacrifices of their lives as over 1.50 Kashmiris have been martyred, about 100,000 children were made orphan and over 40,000 women were made widows by the occupation forces during their struggle for freedom.
He said that the government of Pakistan will continue the social welfare projects to benefit the people. He said that the establishment of second 100-bed Pakistan Sweet Home was the ample proof of the measures initiated by the government to this direction.
Meanwhile, Pakistan Baitul Mall Managing Director Barrister Abid Waheed Sheikh, PML-N AJK Vice President Tariq Farooq, Sultan Ali from KPK also addressed the gathering. The MD informed the gathering of the salient features of the 100-bed Pakistan Sweet Home, established in Dadayal. He said it was the second PSH in AJK next to that already established in capital city of Muzaaffarabad.
The managing director disclosed on the occasion that the network of similar Pakistan Sweet Homes was being expanded across the country besides AJK and GB to house orphans and physically retarded and shelter-less children under an integrated phased welfare plan on the special directives of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif.
Meantime, the inmates of the newly established PSH presented tableaus and national songs depicting their strong determination and skills to perform as useful architects of the nation.