British Parliamentarians express solidarity with the Kashmiris

British Parliamentarians express solidarity with the Kashmiris, raise serious concerns on human rights violations

Pakistan fully committed to supporting the just cause of the Kashmiris: Syed Ibne Abbas

In an unequivocal expression of solidarity, the cross-party British Parliamentarians supported the right to self-determination for the people of Kashmir. They were speaking at a seminar on Kashmir in the British Parliament on 07 February 2017. The event was jointly organized by Khalid Mehmood MP and the Pakistan High Commission London in connection with the “Kashmir Solidarity Day” which is observed every year on 5th February to express solidarity with the struggle of the people of Indian Occupied Kashmir for their rights.

A large number of British Lords, MPs, Mayors, Councillors and representatives of civil society and media organizations attended the event. They urged India to give the Kashmiri people their right to self-determination as promised by the United Nations. They also voiced deep concerns over atrocities and human rights violations in Indian Occupied Kashmir by the Indian security forces, particularly on the inhumane use of pellet guns that resulted in mass blinding of a large number of Kashmiri youth last year. The Parliamentarians put strong emphasis on an early and peaceful resolution of the issue so that the plight and sufferings of the Kashmiri people could be mitigated.

In his remarks on the occasion, H.E. Syed Ibne Abbas, Pakistan High Commissioner to the UK said: “We raise our voice against the oppression of the Kashmiris from this revered venue, the Mother of all Parliaments, which has been safeguarding human rights for many centuries. The various events on the issue of Kashmir in the Parliament, including the Backbench debate in the House of Commons last month, have shown that no civilized nation can now ignore the plight of the Kashmiri people.

“Pakistan would continue to extend moral, political and diplomatic support to the cause of self-determination of the people of Jammu and Kashmir. The day is not far when the Kashmiri people will succeed in their rightful struggle.”

The British Parliamentarians who attended the seminar and spoke on the occasion included: Lord Nazir, Lord Qurban, Gill Furniss, Ian Austin, Jim McMahon, Imran Hussain, Fiona Mctaggart, Kate Hollern, Kelvin Hopkins, Liam Byrne, Naz Shah, Tom Brake, Simon Danczuk and Khalid Mahmood.