Report: Naseem Hassan /ANI
ISLAMABAD –Prime Minister Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) Iftikhar Gillani has paid tribute to the decades-long struggle of the Kashmiri people against India's occupation, saying they have faced repression with exemplary courage and determination.
He expressed these views while addressing a press conference following his maiden visit to the All Parties Hurriyat Conference (APHC) headquarters in Islamabad on Monday. He was accompanied by Hurriyat Convener Ghulam Muhammad Safi and other Hurriyat leaders.
Strongly condemning the continued bloodshed and alleged human rights violations in Indian-administered Kashmir, Gillani said that even animal rights were recognised internationally, while human rights in occupied Kashmir were being trampled upon.
He said the Kashmiri people's struggle would continue until they achieved their right to self-determination in accordance with United Nations resolutions.
The AJK premier appreciated Pakistan's consistent support for the Kashmiri cause and expressed concern over the international community's silence on alleged human rights violations. He said continued oppression could not weaken the Kashmiri people's resolve for freedom.
Paying tribute to the Hurriyat leadership for keeping the freedom movement alive, Gillani reaffirmed his government's full support and said the AJK government and Hurriyat leadership would continue working together for the cause.
Speaking on the occasion, Hurriyat Convener Ghulam Muhammad Safi welcomed the AJK prime minister and said political support from Pakistan and Azad Kashmir remained a source of strength for the Kashmiri freedom movement. He urged the international community to take notice of the human rights situation in the region.
Earlier, the meeting reviewed the prevailing situation in Jammu and Kashmir, including arrests and detention of political leaders, alleged human rights violations and restrictions on freedom of expression, and strongly condemned these actions.
In a joint declaration, participants deplored India's actions of August 5, 2019, and alleged attempts to change Kashmir's Muslim-majority identity and disputed status through domicile and land policies.
The declaration reiterated the Kashmiri people's determination to continue their struggle until they secured their right to self-determination. Special prayers were also offered for the martyrs of Kashmir and Pakistan and for the success of the freedom movement.
