MIRPUR ( AJK): Oct. 24 (APP): Prime Minister Azad Kashmir Chaudhry Anwar ul Haq has said that we will celebrate real freedom on the day when the Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJ&K) will be free from India’s forcible and illegal occupation.
While addressing a special ceremony held to mark the 76th foundation day of Azad Jammu Kashmir government in the state metropolitan, the PM said that the day reminds us of the supreme sacrifices our ancestors had rendered during the freedom struggle.
“The territory of Azad Jammu and Kashmir was liberated by our ancestors after great struggle and sacrifices and now it is our duty to protect it following their ideology in letter and spirit”, the AJK PM said.” We all have to take account of ourselves and see whether we fulfil our responsibilities to achieve this great goal, which was envisioned by our forefathers in 1947″, he said.
While congratulating the nation, he said that the day was not far away when the people of Kashmir, after achieving freedom from the Indian occupation, would fulfil their ancestors’ pledge to join Pakistan. Terming implementation of the UN resolutions as the only viable solution to the Kashmir issue, he said that it was high time that the world should come forward to help resolve the lingering dispute in line with the wishes and aspirations of the Kashmiri people.
Paying tributes to the Kashmiri people, he said that no power on earth can stop the Kashmiri people from achieving their right to self-determination. Lauding the Kashmiri Hurriyat leaders for their unwavering commitment in the freedom struggle, he said, “I salute the determination and courage of all Hurriyat leaders including Yasin Malik, Shabir Shah, Musrat Alam Butt, Asia Andarabi, Nahida Nasreen, Fahmida Sufi and other leaders who devoted their lives to the noble cause”.
He said that Kashmiris have rejected out rightly India’s unconstitutional move it had taken on 5th August 2019. He said that since 5th August, Indian authorities have issued more than 42 lakh domiciles to non-Kashmiri people. He said that under the guise of industrial policy, Kashmir’s prime land was being allotted to outsiders.
He said that the Indian army was given a free hand to establish cantonments and declare any piece of land at any place in Kashmir as strategic. The prime minister said that colonies were being built for ex-Indian soldiers on the Israeli pattern.
The AJK PM also thanked the government and people of Pakistan for their consistent support of Kashmiris’ legitimate struggle for the right to self-determination.
He also paid tribute to the martyrs who laid down their precious lives to liberate Azad Kashmir.”I also pay great tribute to the armed forces of Pakistan who are sacrificing their lives to protect us on the Line of Control”, he said.
Expressing solidarity with the people of Palestine, the PM said, “The people of Kashmir stand in support and solidarity with their Palestinian brothers and share their suffering equally”.
“Solving the long-standing Palestine problem, he said, was the responsibility of the United Nations. He said that it was quite unfortunate that the UN has failed to resolve the Palestine and Kashmir conflicts which happened to be the oldest issues pending on the UN agenda. Referring to his government’s commitment to ensure good governance in the state, the PM said that raising the standard and quality of life was his government’s top priority.
The function was attended and addressed among others by president Azad Jammu and Kashmir Barrister Sultan Mahmood Chaudhry.
While Speaker of the Legislative Assembly Chaudhry Latif Akbar, Senior Minister Colonel (R) Waqar Ahmad Noor, Leader of the Opposition Khawaja Farooq Ahmed, Ministers, and government officials were present on the occasion.