ISLAMABAD: Chairman Senate Standing Committee on Defence Production and special envoy of Prime Minister, Lt General (R) Abdul Qayyum Thursday said the present government effectively highlighted the worsening situation in Indian Occupied Kashmir.
Talking to APP, he said the Kashmir issue was raised at international forums by the Prime Minister and Foreign Office.
Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif raised the matter many times in the General Assembly of the United Nations and letters were written to seek attention of UN General Assembly on Kashmir issue, he added. Prime Minister had nominated Lt Gen (R) Abdul Qayyum as his special envoy for United Kingdom so that he can apprise the British officials and organizations about serious human rights violations in Kashmir.
He said during his visit it will be his priority to inform the world that right to self-determination and plebiscite is part of Universal Declaration of Human Rights and resolutions of United Nations Security Council.
It is made clear in article 1 and 2 of United Nations charter that right to self-determination will be kept on priority, he said adding, the former president of United States Woodrow Wilson in February 1918 made a famous speech in which he said that in the modern international laws, the right to self-determination will be written in golden words. During the meeting of American President Roosevelt and British Prime Minister Churchill on August 14, 1941 the Atlantic Charter Agreement was signed in which it was stated that right to self-determination was basic right of a nation.
The special envoy said the Foreign Ministry briefed its ambassadors in foreign capitals, five permanent members of the UN Security Council and ambassadors of the European Union about the prevailing situation in Kashmir and the atrocities of Indian armed forces. Besides, ambassadors of other countries were also kept informed about the human rights violations in Occupied Kashmir.
According to the draconian laws employed in held Kashmir, Indian forces can enter any house without permission, carry out a search, arrest anyone without warrant and can even kill people, he added.
He said India was using 13 black laws in Indian Occupied Kashmir and fired 1.3 million pellet rounds against the unarmed and peaceful Kashmiri protesters.
He said a new chapter of oppression and cruelty is written in Indian Occupied Kashmir and more than 3000 cartridges carrying 40-50 pellets each were fired on peaceful protesters, which caused injuries to thousands of people.
Till now, 90 Kashmiris were martyred and thousands lost their eyesight, he said adding he will inform the human rights organizations about this barbarity.
He said he will also hold meetings with Kashmiris in Britain, about the situation in Occupied Kashmir. —APP
