By Aziz Khatri
KARACHI: Deputy Mayor Karachi Salman Abdullah Murad said that the unilateral actions taken by India on August 5, 2019, were contrary to international law and the spirit of United Nations resolutions and could not alter the disputed status of Jammu and Kashmir.
He said Pakistan’s support for the right to self-determination of the Kashmiri people was a principled national stance that would continue at every level.
He expressed these views while speaking to media representatives at the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC) Head Office on Wednesday after leading a rally organised to mark Kashmir Exploitation Day (Youm-e-Istehsal-e-Kashmir).
The event was attended by Municipal Commissioner Abrar Ahmed Jaffer, Financial Advisor Gulzar Ali Abro, heads of various departments, officers, employees and a large number of citizens.
Deputy Mayor Salman Abdullah Murad said the measures taken on August 5, 2019, were aimed at ending the special constitutional status of Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir. However, he stressed that under United Nations resolutions, Kashmir remained a disputed territory and its final status must be determined in accordance with the wishes of the Kashmiri people.
He said the people of Kashmir had endured decades of hardships and alleged human rights violations, urging the international community to play a more effective role in addressing their concerns.
The Deputy Mayor said the purpose of Kashmir Exploitation Day was to awaken the conscience of the international community and express solidarity with the people of Kashmir. He said KMC organised the rally in the same spirit to convey Karachi’s continued support for the Kashmiri people.
He reaffirmed that the people of Karachi would continue to support the fundamental rights and right to self-determination of the Kashmiri people. He called upon the United Nations and the international community to fulfil their responsibilities in resolving the Kashmir dispute and take meaningful steps towards lasting peace in the region.
He added that seminars, conferences, rallies and other events were being held across the world on Kashmir Exploitation Day to highlight the issue internationally and draw attention to human rights concerns in the region.
He said the day provided an opportunity to renew the commitment to continue supporting the legitimate rights of the Kashmiri people and raising the voice for justice, peace and human dignity.
On the occasion, KMC Municipal Commissioner Abrar Ahmed Jaffer said that not only the people of Kashmir but also Muslims living across India were subjected to exploitation and discrimination on a daily basis. He said the day symbolised support for the Kashmiri people’s right to self-determination and that KMC was observing Youm-e-Istehsal-e-Kashmir in solidarity with them.
He added that Kashmir had been, was, and would remain a part of Pakistan, and the bond between Pakistan and the Kashmiri people could never be severed under any circumstances.
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