National University of Sciences & Technology (NUST), Pakistan's Higher Education Institution, launched its major policy research and advocacy centre on Wednesday and arranged seminar on Pakistan-India Relations and the Resurgence of Freedom Struggle in IHK. The Foreign Minister of Pakistan, Makhdoom Shah Mahmood Hussain Qureshi, preside the event as Chief Guest. The Launch attended by Mrs Mushaal Hussein Mullick (wife of Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) Chairman Yasin Malik), Ambassador Riaz Khokar, Former Foreign Secretary of Pakistan, Dr Salman Shah, Former Finance Minister, Engineer Shams ul Mulk, Former Chairman WAPDA, Attiya Anayatullah, Former Minister of State for Population Welfare.
Lt Gen Naweed Zaman, HI (M), (Retd), Rector NUST, in his welcome remarks, said University is a key player in the process of nation-building through human resource development, advancement of science and technology, promotion of entrepreneurship and innovation, and national policy formulation, to facilitate the creation of knowledge economy. NUST plays an important role in the country's positive image building and perception management through active interaction within and outside Pakistan. The launch of NUST Institute of Policy Studies (NIPS) will help to utilize the high policy formulation and advisory potential of the university, in line with the best practices of the top university-affiliated think tanks in the world. He also said that "Kashmir holds a special place in our hearts." He dwelled upon the deep cultural affinities and socio-religious commonalities that bind the Kashmiris and Pakistanis together. He said our national narrative is based on solidarity and good will and earnest desire of peace in the region. Rector NUST also highlighted the human rights violations being carried out in IOK by the Indian forces
On Kashmir crisis Mrs Mushaal Mullick, asked international community to play its part for the implementation of United Nations Security Council's resolutions for a plebiscite in Indian held Kashmir. She also added that Humanity is bleeding in Kashmir. The valley is burning, and innocent Kashmiris are afraid as reports of brutal killings and rapes continue to rise. India is attempting to alter the demography of Kashmir, all the while targeting the people living on the other side of the LoC to divert attention from the human rights violations in Indian held side of the valley. She appealed to the world conscience to address the atrocities committed by the Indian authorities and urged India to begin talks.
Former Foreign Secretary, Riaz Khokar spoke on Pak India Stand-off & Impact on situation in IHK. He said that India's secularism was a fraud and its democracy was limping as it was a very communalized and stratified society. He further said that India devised a plan to dismember Pakistan in 1970 and also interfered in internal matters of its neighbours. "We need to know our adversary and got to watch every step of India," he said, adding Hindutva, as a political movement, was an effort to reshape India. He further said that there had been thousands of bloody riots in India since its establishment in 1947 where Hindus committed atrocities against Dalits, Muslims, Christians and Sikhs, spread over decades.-PR