Punjab Assembly calls for right to self-determination of Kashmiris

Punjab Assembly showing solidarity with Kashmiri people in their struggle for freedom unanimously passed resolution calling for right to self-determination of Kashmiris. The resolution demanded that the right to self-determination of the Kashmiris should be forthwith done by the United Nations (UN).
They asked that pressure should be forced on India to stop its atrocities on women, children and old citizens of occupied Kashmir and retreat its armed forces from the area. They urged the federal government to work for the cause of Kashmir at international level and give them vociferous support at diplomatic, moral and other levels.
The resolution passed averred that it felt independence of Kashmir was a blatant reality and in the previous 61 years despite killing of millions of Kashmiris, it could not be suppressed. The resolution showed that the Pakistani nation stood by the Kashmiris, until they achieved their goal of self-determination.
The Punjab Assembly legislators later after passing the resolution, led by the Speaker Punjab Assembly Rana Muhammad Iqbal protested outside the Assembly premises on the Kashmir Solidarity Day. Sardar Zuilifqar Khosa earlier in the House stressed for the solution of the Kashmir issue and lamented international apathy on the subject.
MPA Sajida Mir speaking on the subject said that it was unfortunate that the world community had immediately shown reaction on Mumbai tragedy, while Kashmiris were still waiting for plebiscite on the solution of their dispute. She said that Pakistan People's Party (PPP) had not reversed the stance taken by its late Chairman Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto on the struggle of Kashmir.
She said the present government firmly believes in the struggle for Kashmiri people and were not in favour of the policies of the previous government on it. MPA Samia Amjad recited a poem in the House on the Kashmiri struggle on the occasion. MPA Saeed Akbar Noani averring on the issue said Kashmir was not the issue of a particular country but one of the entire world.
He showed optimism that conscience of the world community on the issue would gradually rise. MPA Ghazala Saad Rafiq said that All Parties Hurayat Conference should be made affective. She said Pakistan was the lawyer of the Kashmir issue and it should play its role in this regard. Sh. Allaudin said that hypocrisy on the issue should be shunned as they were doing trade with India on one end and talked of Kashmir solution on the other. PML-Q leader MPA Chaudhry Zaheer-u-Din on the Kashmir issue said the role of UN was step-motherly.
He said the issue was not local but international and should be solved because of world peace. The House was later adjourned for 9:00am later by the Chair. In the day's agenda, there would be continuation of pre-budget discussion on the annual budget 2009-10.