Kashmir a human rights issue: Raja Ashraf
06 February, 2013
ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf, while terming the Kashmir dispute a human rights issue, has reiterated Pakistan's stance that it should be resolved in accordance with the UN resolutions. Addressing a function on Tuesday in connection with the Kashmir Solidarity Day, he said that plebiscite is the right way to give the Kashmiris their right to self-determination. The prime minister said the Kashmir issue is a human rights issue and urged the world community to play its role for its resolution. He said, unfortunately, India has demonstrated intransigence for resolution of the Kashmir dispute. He said India is ruling Kashmir with brute force and termed the dispute dangerous for peace in the region and the world. Raja said Kashmiris are waging a struggle for their right of self-determination and this struggle is intensifying day by day. The prime minister said the objective to observe Kashmir Solidarity Day is to express solidarity with our Kashmiri brethren for their right to self-determination. In his speech, Minister for Kashmir Affairs and Gilgit-Baltistan Mian Manzoor Wattoo said Kashmir is the jugular vein of Pakistan. He said live nations do not compromise on principles, and added that the right of self-determination is an established right of the Kashmiri people. Parliamentary Kashmir Committee Chairman Maulana Fazlur Rehman said Kashmir issue should be resolved in accordance with the UN resolutions. He said there is a need to take firm stance on the dispute. He also stressed the need for a result-oriented dialogue with India for the resolution of the longstanding issue. Meanwhile, AJK Prime Minister Abdul Majeed said sacrifices of the Kashmiri people will not go waste, and expressed the hope that they will soon succeed in their just struggle. He said former prime minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto had taken a strong stand on the Kashmir issue. He said Benazir Bhutto for the first time observed Kashmir Solidarity Day on February 5. The ceremony was attended by Kashmir leaders from India-held Kashmir, Azad Kashmir and federal ministers. End.
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