February 6th,
2013 by Shadab Khan
The Kashmir Study group,
Sri Lanka organized a Seminar and a Photo Exhibition in Colombo last evening,
on the occasion of the Kashmir Solidarity Day falling on February 5, 2013.
A cross-section of
Pakistani community in Sri Lanka along with a large number of Sri Lankans
attended the event which was also widely covered by the local Media.
“Lasting peace in the
world especially in the South Asian Region cannot be guaranteed unless Kashmir
Issue is resolved in accordance with the wishes of Kashmiri people and the
United Nations resolutions of 1948 and 1949.”
This was the
central theme of the speeches delivered by the eminent speakers, who addressed
the Seminar to mark the Kashmir Solidarity Day.
The messages of the
President and the Prime Minister of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan on the
occasion of the Kashmir Solidarity Day were read out by Mr Bilal Akram
Shah, Head of Chancery, High Commission of Pakistan, Sri Lanka.
The message of the
President of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan H.E Asif Ali Zardari reiterated
Pakistan’s political, moral and diplomatic support towards Kashmiri brethren’s
just cause for the right of self-determination, as enshrined in the UN Charter
and the relevant UN Resolutions.
President Zardari
also paid tribute to the valiant struggle of the Kashmiris; saying in his
message, that they have been rendering huge sacrifices in the quest for
realizing their inalienable right to choose their destiny by themselves.
“Pakistan believes
that the use of force, coercion and violation of basic human rights can never
succeed in suppressing an indigenous struggle for a just cause. Their
perseverance will bear fruit” the Message of the President underlined.
The message of the Prime
Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf, said that Pakistan will stand by Kashmiris till
the realization of their demands for peaceful resolution of the Kashmir
dispute.
“On behalf of the
government and the people of Pakistan, I reaffirm Pakistan’s firm commitment to
a just and peaceful resolution of the Kashmir dispute in accordance with the
aspirations of the people of Jammu and Kashmir and the protection of their
fundamental rights,” message of the Prime Minister said.
Speaking on this
occasion, Chairman of the Kashmir Study Forum Mr Jamal ud Deen, said, “It is
the obligation of the world community to ensure a United Nations sponsored
plebiscite in Kashmir according to the wishes of the people of Kashmir.” He
said that the people of Kashmir must get their right to self-determination. “It
is our firm belief that when (the Kashmiri) people are willing to make the
ultimate sacrifice for their cause, then nothing can stop them “he added.
Senior journalist,
Analyst and Deputy Editor of the famous Sri Lankan newspaper Sunday Times, Mr
Ameen Izzadeen recalled the genesis of Kashmir issue and said that the UN
resolutions, which calls for a referendum on Kashmir, warrants attention of the
world community.
Leading journalist
Mr Zacki Jabbar, speaking on the occasion, highlighted the background of the
Kashmir dispute and stated that observance of this day aims to draw the world
attention towards the miseries of the Kashmiri people and to appeal to the
international community to take cognizance of the urgency of resolving the
Kashmir dispute in accordance with the Kashmiris’ aspirations.
After the
conclusion of the seminar, the photo exhibition on the Kashmir Solidarity Day
was formally opened for the participants, who took keen interest in the
photographs depicting the prevailing situation in the Indian held Kashmir.
The meeting ended
with a vote of thanks and the commitment of the participants for continuing to
extend support for the just resolution of the Kashmir issue.
