ISLAMABAD - Former President of Pakistan and the President Pakistan People’s Party Parliamentarians, Asif Ali Zardari yesterday said that political, moral and diplomatic struggle of Kashmiri people for independence of occupied Kashmir from Indian domination was a part of the manifesto of the PPP.
He said Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and Benazir Bhutto raised their voice at the international forums for independence of Kashmir. Whenever the PPP comes to power, it sets up public opinion for independence of occupied Kashmir, said the former president.
Zardari said that it is important for peace in the region that the Kashmiri people should be given the right to decide for their own future.
He said that if there were a PPP government in Pakistan, Modi would not have dared to destroy the historical status of occupied Kashmir. It is most unfortunate that the government failed to forge national unity but also did not raise an effective voice at the diplomatic level against Modi’s aggression against occupied Kashmir. The former president said that there will be no compromise on relation with people of Kashmir.
Pakistan People’s Party will once again seek support of the international community for independence of Occupied Kashmir when it comes to power, Zardari said.
The Kashmiri people are being oppressed and tortured. The independence of occupied Kashmir from India was the dream of Zulfikar Ali Bhutto. The PPP will realise the dream of independence for the people of Kashmir.
Meanwhile, former prime minister of Pakistan Yousuf Raza Gilani in a message on Kashmir Day said, “Today we stand in solidarity with People of Kashmir. On this day we pay tribute to people of Kashmir who have made sacrifices for their right to self determination promised to them by the international community, India and Pakistan.”
“Today, on this Kashmir Solidarity Day, I, on behalf all opposition parties in the Senate, reaffirm our resolute support for our Kashmiri brothers and sisters, who continue to be subjected to an inhuman military siege and communications blockade since 5 August 2019. The 5th August 2019 Indian action was in violation of the UN Security Council and Shimla Agreement.”
“India is now engaged in the genocide of Kashmiris and Indian Muslims. Violence against Kashmiris and Muslims has reached an alarming proportion. Chairman of the International Genocide Dr Gregory Stanton has demanded the US Congress to pass a resolution against India.
Following its illegal action of 2019, India is now engaged in altering the demographic character of IIOJK. It has issued millions of domicile certificates to non-Kashmiris so as to convert the majority Muslim population in IIOJK to a minority. These changes are being carried out through promulgation of illegal domicile rules, changes in property laws, and downgrading the status of Urdu language. Incentives are being offered to outsiders to settle on the occupied land of the Kashmiris in violation of international law, particularly the 4th Geneva Convention.