Kashmiri leaders have demanded of the United Nations to take over the relief, rehabilitation and reconstruction operation in quake hit areas of Azad Jammu Kashmir to avert injustices being done by local authorities and administration during operation.
The demand was made in a condolence reference hold by All Parties National Alliance (APNA) in memory of Gul Nawaz Butt, a nationalist Kashmiri leader and other martyrs of October 8th devastating earthquake. APNA Chairman Sardar Javed Sharif presided over the function.
Besides others JKLF Chief Amanullah Khan, JKNLF Chief Shaukat Muqbool Butt, APNA Vice Chairman, Sardar Ishtiaq Hussain, APNA Secretary General Dr Abbas, JKLF leader Sardar Rahim Tahir, JKNAP President Professor Khaleeq, UKPNP Acting Chairman Waqar Kazmi addressed the function.
They demanded demilitarisation of entire Jammu Kashmir State including Gilgit Baltistan and said that all foreign occupational forces should be withdrawn from Kashmir, and Kashmiris would be allowed to take helm of affairs.
Kashmiri leaders have rejected any solution of Kashmir being imposed from outside. "The only viable and acceptable solution of longstanding Kashmir issue lies in complete independent and sovereign Kashmir without any interference from outside", they said.
They said Kashmiri people would resist by tooth and nail any solution, which would be minus sovereignty and any move for imposing solution on Kashmiris would not help bring peace in this region. The time was not so far when there would be an independent and sovereign Kashmir on world map, they maintained. The participants of the APNA reference condemned the negligence of the government at the time of earthquake, saying that negligence of the authorities had resulted in huge loss of life and property in Kashmir.
They said indiscrimination meted during the distribution of relief and compensation by Pakistan Army in league with local ruling party leadership was causing panic among affectees. They also demanded that indiscrimination in distribution should be brought to an end and UN should be given complete charge of this operation.
Kashmiri leaders were critical on the government's planning, saying there was no readiness to meet any challenge out of the calamity, and added the collapse of infrastructure added in the miseries of the affected people as government functionaries had bent upon loot and money making out of this calamity.
They thanked people of Mirpur and Kotli, people of Pakistan, international community and Nato forces for their valuable contribution for rescue, relief and rehabilitation of Kashmiri affectees and said it would remain alive in hearts of Kashmiris. Kashmiri leaders have condemned the planned killings in Gilgit Baltistan and termed it a conspiracy of establishment to divide people of this area.