MUZAFFARABAD: Speaker of the Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) Legislative Assembly and prominent PPP figure Chaudhry Latif Akbar has suggested that Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari, the chairman of his party, be named head of the parliamentary Kashmir committee.
At a press conference held here on Thursday, he made this recommendation alongside two cabinet members from his party, Sardar Javaid Ayub and Syed Bazil Ali Naqvi.
“We want the next parliamentary Kashmir committee to be non-passive and to carry out its duties with a missionary fervor that aligns with the hopes and dreams of Pakistani citizens and the Kashmiri people who are demanding their freedom. Mr. Akbar emphasized that the committee needs to be led by a practical, informed, and passionate lawmaker in order for this to occur.
The PPP had declined an official position in the federal government, but he added that Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari was the most qualified person to lead the parliamentary Kashmir committee because of the way he had represented Pakistan’s position globally and that of the Kashmiri community in particular during his 16 months as the country’s foreign minister.
After removing occupied Jammu and Kashmir’s special status in August 2019, Mr. Akbar noted that India has been taking horrifying steps one after another to stifle the freedom movement. In its most recent terrifying move, the country outlawed a number of pro-independence parties in the occupied area.
In an attempt to court fervent Hindu supporters ahead of the Lok Sabha elections, the Jammu and Kashmir People’s Freedom League, Jammu and Kashmir People’s League, Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF), Muslim Conference, and Jammu Kashmir National Front are prohibited under a number of black laws. This is totally unacceptable,” he declared.
“They [the Indian government] say they are the biggest democracy, yet they are not willing to allow anyone in occupied Kashmir any political space. He continued, “They are unwilling to grant the Kashmiris even those rights that are guaranteed by their own laws and constitution.
Mr. Akbar urged the Pakistani government to vigorously bring up this matter in all forums, such as the Organization of Islamic Cooperation and international human rights organizations.
He remarked that the federal government ought to discuss it in the Parliament as well.
He reminded India that its worst-ever repressive policies during the previous 76 years had not succeeded in putting an end to Kashmiris’ desire for freedom, and he counseled Indian officials to be cautious rather than jingoistic.
“India has to remove all restrictions in occupied Kashmir, free thousands of illegally detained Kashmiris and their leaders, and establish a dialogue-friendly atmosphere for a peaceful resolution of the Kashmir dispute,” he declared.
