NA speaker asks IPU, CPA to inquire into human rights abuses in IoK

ISLAMABAD, Oct 07 (APP):National Assembly Speaker Asad Qaiser Monday wrote letters to the Secretary General of Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) and Acting Secretary of General Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) demanding an inquiry into the continued abuse of human rights and constitutional freedoms in Indian occupied Kashmir (IoK).

He proposed dispatch of fact-finding missions comprising the parliamentarians from IPU Member Parliaments and CPA Branches without further delay.

Apprising the Secretary General of IPU and Acting Secretary General of CPA, the speaker said the government of Narendra Modi unilaterally scrapped Articles 35-A and 370 respectively from the Indian Constitution on August 5.

He further said by doing so, the Indian government has by usurpation, formally annexed the disputed territory, depriving the people of Kashmir the sole nationality and property rights in the State.

He said although, Pakistan had never recognized this farce arrangement and had always considered it an eye-wash, yet by going back on its own pledges, New Delhi had once again demonstrated its real designs concerning Kashmir and its people.

Referring to the Article 1 of the Statutes of the Inter Parliamentary Union, the speaker in his letter to Secretary General of IPU said IPU as the focal point for worldwide parliamentary dialogue was obliged to work for peace and cooperation among peoples and their representative institutions, foster contacts, coordination and the exchange of experience among Parliaments and parliamentarians of all countries besides considering questions of international interest and express its views on such issues with the aim of bringing about action by Parliaments and their members.

He further reiterated that it was thus a binary responsibility of the IPU to contribute to the defence and promotion of human rights anywhere in the world, therefore, attention of the IPU, towards the ongoing plight of the besieged and beleaguered innocent men, women and children of Kashmir was being drawn.

The speaker, in his letter to Acting Secretary General of CPA recalled decision of Pakistan as host of the 61st proposed CPA Conference to not extend invitation of participation to the legislature of IoK as matter of its legitimacy.