On International Human Rights Day, senior leaders and activists convened at a seminar in Islamabad to highlight ongoing human rights violations in Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir and to rally international support for the Kashmiris’ struggle for freedom. Speakers at the Pakistan Institute for Parliamentary Services (PIPS) saluted jailed Kashmiri leaders, including APHC chairman Masarrat Aalam Butt and Muhammad Yasin Malik, and described the situation in Kashmir since August 5, 2019, as a complete militarization, likening the territory to a cantonment. 

The speakers highlighted the courage and sacrifices of Kashmiri youth, noting that children in the occupied valley continue to remember Pakistan’s national anthem despite facing violence for expressing their sentiments. “The people of the valley are fighting bravely; Kashmir is part of our faith and belief,” they said. Drawing parallels with Palestine, the seminar recalled that over 500,000 Kashmiris have been martyred while atrocities continue unabated. Speakers urged that the Kashmir issue must be resolved in accordance with United Nations resolutions, guaranteeing the right to self-determination for Kashmiris. 

The seminar concluded with a unified call for youth engagement, sustained international pressure, and global solidarity to ensure justice for the people of Kashmir, reaffirming their struggle as a sacred and legitimate cause. Speakers included Farhatullah Babar, Rana Qasim Noon, Sardar Usman Atiq, Muhammad Farooq Rahmani, Sardar Masood Khan, Sheikh Abdul Matin, Abdul Hameed Lone, and Mahmood Shahzad Khan. The event was organized by the Parliamentary Kashmir Committee and Friends of Kashmir. 

Credit: Independent News Pakistan (INP)